Clashes between Kurdish forces and fighters from Arab clans in Syria are once again making headlines. Since the beginning of September, these sporadic fighting have caused several casualties and reflect renewed tension in the region. In this article, we will analyze the issues at stake in these clashes and try to understand the reasons which led to this escalation.
The clashes are mainly concentrated in eastern Syria, near the province of Deir Ezzor. This region, crossed by the Euphrates, marks the border between the areas controlled by the regime of Bashar al-Assad and those held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), dominated by the Kurds.
Since their victory against the Islamic State in 2019, the SDF has enjoyed the support of American forces and controls a semi-autonomous Kurdish zone in the northeast of the country. However, tensions persist with local Arab clans, who believe they have not gotten what they wanted from the coalition and the SDF.
Arab fighters accuse the SDF of treating them unfairly and favoring the Kurds. The latter even send Arab fighters to fight against Arab clans, which fuels tensions. Some experts believe that the lack of mediation by the international coalition, dominated by the United States, contributed to this escalation.
The arrest of a local Arab military leader allied with the SDF in late August was also a factor in triggering the September clashes. Following these fighting, the FDS announced that it had dislodged certain Arab fighters from the region, but insisted on the local nature of the dispute, affirming that it was not a Kurdish-Arab conflict.
However, this complex situation is also linked to the fighting taking place in northern Syria. Syrian rebel factions, supported by the Turkish army, are vying for control of certain areas, which has increased tensions and rivalries between armed groups. The Islamist organization Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) is seeking to extend its control over all free zones, which is creating a climate of instability.
In this context, Kurdish forces and Arab fighters find themselves caught in a war of factions and rivalries, with significant political and territorial stakes. The international coalition, notably the United States, is trying to play an arbitration role, but it is clear that the situation is far from resolved and that new clashes could break out at any time.
In conclusion, the clashes between Kurdish forces and fighters from Arab clans in Syria reflect a complex and volatile situation, with significant political and territorial issues. The mediation of the international coalition remains essential to ease tensions and find a lasting solution to this conflict. In the meantime, the Syrian population continues to suffer the consequences of this escalation of violence.