Illustrative image.
On March 13, three fighters of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were killed in two separate attacks that took place near the US-led coalition’s base in al-Omar oil fields in the southeastern countryside of Syria’s Deir Ezzor.
The first attack saw a group of unidentified gunmen attacking a checkpoint of the SDF near the village of al-Zur, which is located in the outskirts of al-Omar oil fields. Two SDF fighters were killed and a third was wounded as a result of the hit-and-run attack.
The second attack was similar. A group of unidentified gunmen opened fire at a checkpoint of the SDF in the outskirts of the town of al-Sabha, which is located a few kilometers to the northeast of al-Omar oil fields. A fighter of the SDF was killed and another was wounded in the attack.
The perpetrators of both attacks managed to flee. The US-led coalition didn’t intervene despite maintaining a large presence in al-Omar oil fields.
The two attacks were likely carried out by ISIS. The terrorist group’s cells have been very active in the southeastern Deir Ezzor countryside. The area is slowly turning into a stronghold of the group.
The SDF and the US-led coalition are yet to make any serious effort to secure the southeastern Deir Ezzor countryside. Soon, the terrorist group may carry out a large-scale attack in the area similar to the January 20 al-Hasakah prison attack, which claimed the lives of 300 people.
