Infighting within the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continues to make waves in the province of Deir Ezzor, despite the official announcement of the recapture of all localities by Kurdish forces. While the SDF had managed to drive Arab insurgents out of some areas, the situation remains unstable due to daily guerrilla operations undertaken by the rebels.
It all started 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 was seen as a provocation by Al-Khabil supporters, who launched attacks against the SDF with the aim of driving them out of Deir Ezzor. Although the fighting calmed down after the recapture of the localities by Kurdish forces, the insurgents did not give up and are now leading a guerrilla war against the FDS bases in the region.
According to our Observer, Zain al-Abidin, these attacks are almost daily and mainly carried out by members of the al-Uqaidat tribe, of which Ibrahim al-Hafl is the leader. Despite taking control of the attacked areas, the SDF have not succeeded in completely neutralizing the insurgents, who are hiding in pockets of resistance, notably in the locality of al-Dhiban. Ibrahim al-Hafl, leader of the movement, lives in hiding and continues to call for fight against the SDF militias.
The attacks, often at night, mainly target FDS premises and their patrols. These insurgents use small arms and carry out harassment actions against Kurdish forces. Despite the efforts of the FDS to arrest the insurgents, they managed to escape arrest by blending in with the local population.
Tensions between Kurds and Arabs within the SDF are not new. For several years, Kurdish forces have been accused of committing abuses against the Arab populations of the region. This situation helped fuel animosity and led to the creation of dissident Arab armed groups within the SDF, such as the Deir Ezzor Military Council.
To end these attacks and restore stability in the region, it is essential to resolve the differences between the Kurdish and Arab factions within the SDF. Constructive dialogue and reconciliation between the two groups are essential to ensure the security and well-being of the residents of Deir Ezzor.
In conclusion, despite the official proclamation of the recapture of the localities of Deir Ezzor by the Kurdish forces of the SDF, the situation remains tense in the region due to guerrilla operations carried out by dissident Arab insurgents. It is crucial that the Kurdish and Arab factions within the SDF manage to resolve their differences and find common ground to restore stability in Deir Ezzor province.