The Kurdish-led SDF said that in the early hours of Sunday morning, their positions on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River came under artillery and mortar fire by pro-regime “mercenaries” attempting to infiltrate SDF-held territory.
At least 19 pro-government fighters were killed in the clashes and an additional 20 injured, according to the SDF statement. At least three SDF members and four civilians were also killed.
State-run SANA news reported one civilian killed by an SDF rocket.
The Arab-majority province of Deir ez-Zor was where Islamic State (ISIS) militants made their last stand and were territorially defeated. Control of the province, which borders Iraq, is now split between the SDF and the Syrian regime, with its Iranian backer. It is also home to many of the country’s key oilfields, such as Omar and Conoco, which the US-led global coalition against ISIS helps the SDF protect.
There is a history of tense relations between the Kurdish-led SDF and some Arab tribes in the province. Some anti-SDF groups have claimed that the Kurdish-led force is targeting Arabs, but the SDF has rejected the accusations.
Clashes erupted between the SDF and a number of Arab tribes in Deir ez-Zor in late August after the Kurdish-led force arrested a key member of these tribes, who was also a commander of the SDF, over several charges, including drug trafficking and coordinating with external entities.
Tribes loyal to the arrested commander launched attacks on the SDF. After days of battling, the SDF was able to retake all areas it had lost to these groups. At least 90 people were killed.
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