The areas and villages adjacent to the Euphrates River in eastern Deir ez-Zor province are experiencing heightened security measures for the third consecutive day following mutual shelling between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian Army, resulting in civilian casualties. This exchange of fire came after an attack launched by fighters from the Tribal Army opposing the SDF, which the latter accuses of receiving support from the Syrian regime. The Syrian Network for Human Rights documented the death of a young man, Hassan Amash Al-Aliwy Al-Abed, from Deir ez-Zor, and the injury of Jumaa Ahmad Al-Hassan due to artillery shells fired by the SDF on the city of Deir ez-Zor, where the Syrian regime is in control.
The network added that the SDF has "undeniably" violated UN Security Council resolutions 2139 and 2254, which call for the cessation of indiscriminate attacks. The Euphrates Post website, which specializes in covering news from eastern Syria, published a video recording they claimed shows the moment SDF mortar shells landed in the city of Deir ez-Zor, resulting in one death and three injuries.
Clashes, accompanied by mutual shelling between the SDF and the National Defense Forces, erupted on Wednesday morning, concentrated around the Deir ez-Zor bridge. Automatic weapons and mortar shells were used in the clashes, and the regime forces shelled SDF positions near the Al-Hawaij area on the banks of the Euphrates, according to the local opposition network "Ain Al-Furat." Sources added that the SDF responded by targeting the outskirts of Deir ez-Zor with several mortar shells, leading to the death of Hassan Al-Abed due to his injuries.
Following this, the SDF tightened security measures at its checkpoints spread throughout the area, including intensified security checks in its controlled regions in eastern Deir ez-Zor, and deployed mobile checkpoints in various locations. The SDF also imposed strict procedures, closely monitoring passersby in the city of Al-Busayrah in eastern Deir ez-Zor. Local sources revealed that the SDF established a temporary checkpoint at the Clock Roundabout in the city, inspecting vehicles and pedestrians. The sources indicated that checkpoint personnel arrested two young men on charges of possessing weapons in their vehicle and seized the car, taking them to the Al-Busayrah command.
A military source in the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) affiliated with the Autonomous Administration (the political umbrella of SDF) stated that the increased security measures were a response to the regime's shelling of the area. The source, who preferred to remain anonymous as he was not authorized to speak to the media, noted that the National Defense Forces, which are irregular forces loyal to the regime, shelled SDF positions in the towns of Al-Hawaij and Dhiban, resulting in injuries among the personnel stationed at these points, as reported by the "Enab Baladi" network.
The mutual targeting between the two sides comes amid a tense climate in the region, characterized by repeated shelling of US bases east of the Euphrates, often attributed to Iran-aligned groups. Additionally, there are attacks conducted by small groups that claim affiliation with what is known as "the Tribal Uprising," which took place in the area between August and September. These groups accuse the SDF of being loyal to the Syrian regime and Iran.
Attacks between the two sides along the banks of the Euphrates have escalated since late last year, with the SDF accusing the regime of supporting tribal groups that launch assaults against its forces on the eastern bank of the river. On October 29, the SDF reported that groups from the Syrian regime and its security agencies launched an attack using heavy artillery, mortars, and DShK weapons on the villages and towns of Abu Hurdoub, Dhiban, and Abu Hamam, resulting in fatalities, including civilians. The SDF retaliated against the same attack with rocket fire targeting the city of Deir ez-Zor, controlled by Iran-aligned militias, which has been a major center for them for years, causing deaths and injuries. The SDF claimed that the attack resulted in the deaths of 19 members of the attacking forces, including six in the town of Dhiban and 13 in the town of Abu Hurdoub, east of Deir ez-Zor. According to the SDF, the attack led to the deaths of four civilians in its controlled areas east of the river, alongside three of its fighters in the region.
