Illustrative image.
Clashes between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Arab tribes spread to al-Hasakah and Raqqa on September 3, with tribal fighters backed by Turkey launching attacks in both governorates.
In the northern al-Hasakah countryside, tribal fighters launched an attack from the direction of the town of Ras al-Ayn and managed to reach the villages of Tawila, Tell Tawil and Khamsina. Nevertheless, they were quickly pushed back by the SDF.
A similar attack was launched from the direction of the town of Tell Abyad in the northern Raqqa countryside. Tribal fighters captured the town of Sakiro which is located near the strategic M4 highway. Yet, they were forced to withdraw within a few hours by the SDF.
The attacks came less than a day after a Turkish drone strike hit a vehicle of the SDF in the northern al-Hasakah countryside, killing a fighter of the group and wounding another. The strike shows how Turkey has been trying to take advantage of the ongoing conflict between the SDF and Arab tribes.
The armed conflict broke out on August 27 after the SDF arrested Rashid Abu Khawla, the leader of its largest Arab faction, the Deir Ezzor Military Council (DMC), and launched a large-scale security operation within its areas in the governorate in cooperation with its main backer, the United States-led coalition.
Abu Khawal was accused of several serious crimes and violations, including communicating with an “anti-revolution” foreign power, drug trafficking, abuse of power and facilitating ISIS operations in Deir Ezzor.
Tribesmen backed by Turkey launched two waves of attacks against the town of Manbij in the northern Aleppo countryside, which is held by the SDF and guarded by Syrian government forces, on September 1 and 2. The attackers were met with Russian airstrikes, which left many of them killed or wounded.
Meanwhile, the situation remains tense in Deir Ezzor. SDF fighters entered the key town of al-Busayrah in the southeastern Deir Ezzor countryside on September 3 without facing any resistance from tribal forces.
This advance by the SDF came following reports of a near agreement between the group and Arab tribes in the governorate.
U.S. embassy in Syria announced earlier in the day that Near East Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary Goldrich and coalition Commander Major General Vowell had met with SDF officials and tribal leaders in northern and eastern Syria to broker an agreement.
According to a statement by the embassy, all sides agreed on “the importance of addressing the grievances of residents of Deir Ezzor, the dangers of outsiders interfering in Deir Ezzor, the need to avoid civilian deaths and casualties, and the need for de-escalation of violence as soon as possible.”
It’s worth noting that the U.S.-led coalition maintains two bases at the Conoco gas plant in the eastern Deir Ezzor countryside and al-Omar oil fields in the southern countryside of the governorate. However, it didn’t intervene in the clashes between the SDF and Arab tribes.
Overall, the conflict appears to be heading to its end in Deir Ezzor. However, the situation in al-Hasakah, Raqqa and Aleppo will likely remain tense as Turkey attempts to exploit ethnic tensions between Kurds and Arabs to expand its influence in northern and eastern Syria.
the war in syria has been pretty dry, just unstable of a nation. it’s time for sides to call cessation of hostilities.
syria was a very stable country (as even sunni refugees in germany confirm) until the imperialist states around the usa instigated the “arab spring” and incited sunnis against shiites and alawites, from which isis later emerged. then, as so often, the usa lost control over its puppets, we are now seeing the result!
kurdi sa nechali oklamať a začali slúžiť teroristickému darebáckemu štátu usa!!! ak by si sadli za rokovací stôl a dohodli sa tak mohli žiť pokojne a v mieri. takto to dopadne keď hlupáci uveria usa!!! usa sú teroristický štát!!! útok na irak a sýriu to jasne preukázali. prečo br osn nekoná? preto lebo je len obyčajnou slúžkou usa!!! teraz sa to plne prejavilo.