The leader of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, has pledged to meet the demands of Arab tribes in eastern Syria and correct "mistakes" made in the administration of the region, in an effort to defuse tensions that have sparked deadly fighting over several days. Dozens of people have been killed since an uprising by Arab fighters against the SDF in Deir ez-Zor last week, marking the first such uprising since the Kurdish-led forces expelled ISIS from the area over four years ago with U.S. support.
The uprising, widely viewed as reflecting growing grievances among Arabs, prompted the United States to make efforts to de-escalate the situation, as there are concerns that either ISIS or President Bashar al-Assad could benefit from any ongoing conflict. In an interview with Reuters, Abdi stated that he had met with tribal leaders and respects their request for the release of dozens of local fighters who had risen up and were captured during the SDF's crackdown on unrest. He added in a video call from northeastern Syria, “We have decided that a general amnesty will be given to all involved in these incidents... so far, some have been released, and we will release the rest.”
Abdi committed to hosting a large meeting with key figures from the Arab tribes and other representatives from Deir ez-Zor to address long-standing grievances regarding issues ranging from education and the economy to security. Arab residents have complained about the Kurdish-led administration, stating that it discriminates against them and does not grant them their fair share of the region's oil wealth.
When asked how complaints would be addressed, Abdi acknowledged the existence of "failures" in the representation of various tribes in local councils, saying, “Certainly, there are gaps and mistakes on the ground.”
The SDF, which is led by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and includes Arab fighters, is a key partner in the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS. The forces control a quarter of Syria's territory, which includes oil fields, and around 900 American soldiers are deployed in the area.
Abdi also pledged to restructure both the civilian council governing the province and the Deir ez-Zor military council, which is an Arab unit of the SDF, to make them “representative of all tribes and components present in Deir ez-Zor.” Fighting erupted after the SDF arrested the head of the council known as Abu Khawla, accusing him of corruption and other violations, prompting his tribal allies to revolt.
The coalition has called for an end to the violence, stating that distraction from the fight against ISIS exacerbates the risk of the group's resurgence. Senior American officials visited the area on Sunday. Abdi stated that the SDF would not withdraw from the region and also accused the Syrian government of being involved in stirring unrest, noting that his forces had arrested fighters linked to Damascus who joined the tribal rebels and would not be released under the general amnesty.
