SDF launches new anti-ISIS campaign in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor

17-07-2020
Karwan Faidhi Dri
Karwan Faidhi Dri @KarwanFaidhiDri
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Deir ez-Zor province on Friday launched a new phase of their operation against Islamic State (ISIS) remnants in the eastern Syrian province. 

The ‘Deterrence of Terrorism’ operation “targets ISIS hideouts and their cells that threaten stability and civil peace in the areas of Deir Ezzor,” the SDF announced, noting militants have increased attacks on the civilian population.

On the first day, 24 suspected ISIS members were detained in the towns of al-Basira and al-Shahel.

The first phase of the campaign began in early June in coordination with the US-led global coalition. The SDF arrested 110 ISIS members and confiscated large amounts of ammunition.

This stage will cover ground near the Euphrates River and “any other areas where necessary,” Adnan Afrini, SDF commander in Deir ez-Zor, said in a video published by the People’s Protection Units (YPG) on Twitter. The YPG is the backbone of the SDF. 

ISIS was declared territorially defeated in Syria in 2019 and in Iraq in 2017, but the group remains a threat on both sides of the border, including carrying out hit-and-run attacks and abductions. 

The Coalition said in a tweet on Friday that their allies in Iraq and Syria have carried out 16 operations against ISIS in the last week, leading to the detention of 26 ISIS fighters. “Daesh cannot hide itself in Iraq and Syria,” read the tweet in Kurdish, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS.   

The current campaign is at the “request of the people, chieftains, and elderly of the tribes of the region, especially after ISIS attacks on civilians increased and posed a direct threat to their lives,” the SDF stated. 

Relations are tense between Arab tribes of Deir ez-Zor and the Kurdish-dominated SDF and political administration of northeastern Syria. On Friday, conflict monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported skirmishes between SDF and demonstrators protesting a new school curriculum.

According to the Observatory, the curriculum includes instruction on multiple religions, and “called for the division of Syria.” Teachers and parents say this contradicts local customs and traditions.

Last year, the Kurdish leadership met with representatives of some 70 clans and tribes to strengthen frayed ties.
 

Comments

Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.

To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.

We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.

Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.

Post a comment

Required
Required
 

The Latest

Fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and partner forces standing in formation ahead of announcing the end of a week-long anti-ISIS operation in al-Hol camp in northeast Syria (Rojava) on November 12, 2024. Photo: Screengrab/SDF press

Kurdish forces end week-long op in Rojava, detain 79 ISIS suspects

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Tuesday announced the completion of a week-long operation against Islamic State (ISIS) sleeping cells in the notorious al-Hol camp in northeast Syria (Rojava), detaining 79 suspected members of the group.