Reports have confirmed intense clashes between groups of Arab tribesmen and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in several towns in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, Syria, following a large-scale attack. According to the Russian news agency Sputnik, groups of Arab tribesmen, known as the “Tribal Army,” have taken control of several towns in the region after launching the largest attack of its kind, targeting SDF-controlled areas around American bases.
Civilian Displacement
Salih Mohammed, a resident of the eastern Deir ez-Zor countryside, stated that the ongoing clashes have caused a significant displacement of civilians from the villages experiencing or near the fighting. He reported that three civilians have been killed and seven others injured.
He confirmed that tribal fighters have captured ten SDF militants, killed three, and injured fourteen others, with reports of military reinforcements from Hasakah being brought in to repel the tribal attack. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the clashes erupted yesterday after tribal fighters launched an attack and took control of checkpoints and positions belonging to the SDF in the cities and towns of the Deir ez-Zor countryside.
The Observatory reported that the SDF responded with artillery shelling on the attacked areas, noting that six people were killed and at least 19 were injured in the clashes, with the dead including three civilians and three tribal fighters.
Rami Abdulrahman, the director of the Observatory, told the German news agency that the attack on SDF checkpoints and military positions was carried out by tribal forces supported by fighters from areas controlled by the Syrian government west of the Euphrates River.
He added that the clashes on the outskirts of the town of Dhiban are occurring just four kilometers from the American base in the al-Omar oil field. SDF spokesman Farhad Shami said that armed groups loyal to the Syrian government crossed the Euphrates River to fight alongside the tribal fighters.
