Commander in SDF: Transitional govt. begins violations, we are committed to truce

For several weeks, the frontlines in Deir Hafer, in the countryside of Tabqa Canton in North and East Syria, have witnessed repeated infiltration attempts by the transitional government forces in Syria. Meanwhile, the SDF remains on alert and ready to prevent any threats that could destabilize the region.

Zuhair Afrin, an SDF commander on the Deir Hafer frontlines, stated that their forces are currently positioned along the front north of the village of Rasem al-Fallah, which marks the dividing line between the SDF and the transitional government forces.

Zuhair Afrin said: “Around a month and a half ago, undisciplined factions began violating the truce. These are the same groups that committed massacres against our people in Syria’s coastal regions and in Sweida under the name of ‘tribal forces.’ Today, these same factions (Al-Amshat, Al-Hamzat, and Sultan Murad) are the ones standing across from us on the contact lines.”

Afrin revealed that these groups have carried out more than seven violations since the truce began, the most notable of which was the drone strike on the village of Umm al-Tina on the night of September 20–21, which resulted in the martyrdom of eight civilians and the injury to three others. Several infiltration attempts also took place along the Babiri axis, leaving two civilians injured.

He further explained that the Deir Hafer crossing and its surroundings were targeted on Sunday, October 5, by suicide drones, injuring one civilian, three SDF fighters, and four members of the Internal Security Forces who were performing their duties in protecting the area.

Afrin affirmed that the SDF remains fully prepared to thwart any further infiltration attempts or new violations, responding directly to the sources of fire to protect civilians and maintain regional stability.

He refuted all allegations spread by media outlets linked to the transitional government and Turkish-backed mercenaries accusing the SDF of escalation, saying: “These claims are baseless. We are committed to the truce agreed upon with the transitional government; the violations started from their side, and most of them targeted civilians. We are here to defend this region and will not allow their lies to pass.”

Regarding the media warfare accompanying the field escalation, the commander explained that the transitional government forces in Syria are spreading rumors and fabricating images on social media, saying: “Among these are false claims of their control over the entire city of Deir Hafer. Everything published is simply part of a media war, nothing more.”

Afrin added that all SDF fighters on the Deir Hafer frontlines come from various ethnic and religious groups in the region, including Arabs, Kurds, Alawites, Druze, and tribal members. He concluded, “We pledge to our people in North and East Syria that we will remain true to our promise and defend this land with all our strength. These factions will not pass through here.”

A-H 

ANHA