The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on September 6 the recapture of all localities in the province of Deir Ezzor which were occupied by Arab insurgents. However, the situation remains very unstable as guerrilla operations continue to take place daily.
The SDF is a military coalition formed in 2015 to fight the Islamic State group, with the support of the US-led coalition. Initially composed mainly of Kurdish fighters, the coalition was later joined by Arab fighters recruited from local Bedouin tribes.
Clashes erupted on August 27 when the SDF arrested Ahmad al-Khabil, the head of the Deir Ezzor Military Council, an Arab armed group affiliated with the SDF. The arrest led to attacks by al-Khabil supporters, who sought to drive the SDF from Deir Ezzor.
After eleven days of fighting, the FDS finally announced the total recapture of the localities attacked by the Arab insurgents. However, the situation remains tense as pockets of rebellion persist, notably in the locality of al-Dhiban, where Ibrahim al-Hafl, leader of the al-Uqaidat tribe, continues to carry out attacks against the SDF.
These attacks take the form of guerrilla warfare, with almost daily assaults mainly at night, targeting FDS bases and patrols. Arab insurgent fighters have accused the SDF of committing abuses against local Arab populations for several years, which explains their animosity towards the coalition.
Despite guerrilla operations, the SDF also carries out regular arrests, searching for former members who have defected to join the ranks of insurgent Arab tribes. The Deir Ezzor Military Council, made up of Arab fighters allied with the SDF, has been completely dismantled since the fighting began.
The insurgent Arab fighters are now demanding the withdrawal of Kurdish SDF cadres from the province of Deir Ezzor in exchange for stopping the attacks. However, as long as tensions persist between different factions within the SDF, the situation remains uncertain and guerrillas continue to cause disruption in Deir Ezzor province.