Hot news: Guerrilla warfare continues in Deir Ezzor province
On September 6, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced the recapture of all localities in the province of Deir Ezzor, thus putting an end to the fighting between Kurdish and Arab fighters within this anti-Islamic State coalition. But the situation remains very unstable in the region, with daily guerrilla operations carried out by Arab insurgents, explains our Observer on site.
The FDS, a military coalition created in 2015 to fight against ISIS, was originally composed mainly of Kurdish fighters. However, over time, Arab fighters, recruited from local Bedouin tribes, joined the ranks of the SDF.
The unrest erupted on August 27 when the SDF arrested Ahmad al-Khabil, head of the Deir Ezzor Military Council, an Arab armed group affiliated with the SDF. This arrest angered his supporters, who launched attacks against the SDF in an attempt to drive them out of Deir Ezzor.
After eleven days of fighting, the FDS announced on September 6 the total recapture of the localities attacked by the insurgent Arab tribes. But since then, the clashes have transformed into a guerrilla war, with almost daily attacks against SDF bases in different localities of Deir Ezzor.
Members of the al-Uqaidat tribe, who joined the Arab insurgents, mainly carry out these attacks. Ibrahim al-Hafl, leader of this tribe, is now considered the leader of the movement and remains in hiding to escape SDF forces.
Arab insurgents continue to target SDF bases and patrols, operating mainly at night. These attacks are becoming more and more frequent and regularly cause casualties among FDS combatants.
On the SDF side, arrests are carried out daily in the localities of Deir Ezzor, targeting former members who have joined the ranks of the insurgent Arab tribes. These often heavy-handed operations can lead to tensions with the local population.
Arab insurgents are demanding the withdrawal of Kurdish SDF cadres from the province of Deir Ezzor in exchange for stopping the attacks. The situation remains tense and it is clear that the instability in the region is far from resolved.
In conclusion, despite the proclamation of the end of the fighting by the FDS, the guerrilla war continues in the province of Deir Ezzor, with regular attacks by Arab insurgents against the FDS bases. The situation remains precarious and tensions persist, which makes the stability of the region still uncertain. Stay tuned for more updates on this rapidly evolving situation.