Deir ez-Zor Military Council: 150 attacks against our forces since beginning of year

In an exclusive statement to ANHA Agency, Abdul Karim Oweid Fendi Al-Oweid, a senior commander in the Deir ez-Zor Military Council, provided a detailed briefing on the latest security and military developments in the countryside of Deir ez-Zor, particularly in the eastern region. 

He stressed the Council’s readiness to confront any threat aimed at civilians or public facilities, highlighting the sharp increase in ISIS sleeper-cell attacks in recent months.

Al-Oweid stated:"With regard to the current security and military situation in the Deir ez-Zor countryside, we have observed since the beginning of this year a notable rise in ISIS attacks targeting military and security forces, service facilities, and even civilians. The frequency of these assaults has increased, and they are being carried out with new tactics by sleeper cells."

He added: "We believe ISIS has shifted its strategy and tactics following the chaos that accompanied the collapse of the regime. The organization exploited these conditions to regroup, recruit new members, and launch attacks against civilians and both public and military institutions."

The commander further explained:"From our extensive experience in counterterrorism, we know that ISIS sleeper cells are behind the majority of these operations.

The organization has taken advantage of our engagement with Turkish occupation forces to reorganize. Its main objective remains to destabilize the region, instill fear among civilians, and revive its ambition of territorial control."

Al-Oweid pointed to the geographical conditions that ISIS mercenaries exploit:"Deir ez-Zor is a vast desert region. In addition, the Euphrates River and the dense vegetation along its banks provide an environment conducive for concealment and movement beyond surveillance."

He also described a recent abduction of Council fighters in the town of Gharanij:

"On the night of August 14, while a group of our fighters were stationed at a health center in Gharanij, they came under attack by an armed group we strongly suspect was affiliated with ISIS. Several of our fighters were taken hostage. We immediately launched an investigation and identified the area where they had been moved. Our forces carried out an intervention that resulted in clashes, during which one attacker was killed and three others wounded. The following day, in coordination with the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), we conducted a wide-scale combing operation in Gharanij. This led to the liberation of four of our kidnapped fighters and the arrest of 12 individuals suspected of ISIS affiliation."

He noted that the operation "continued through the night until the morning of August 16 and resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of ammunition. Interrogations with the detainees are still underway to determine their involvement in the attacks."

Regarding losses incurred by the Council, Al-Oweid revealed: "Since the beginning of the year, our forces in the Deir ez-Zor area have endured nearly 150 armed attacks by ISIS mercenaries. Just last month alone, in addition to 10 attacks against military and security points, leading to the martyrdom of six of our fighters."

The commander concluded by reaffirming the Council’s commitment to restoring security and stability:

"We remain fully prepared to counter any threat. The recent combing operations have proven effective, as calm has returned to the region following the elimination of several active cells. Our ultimate objective is to protect civilians and prevent ISIS from exploiting any security vacuum or climate of disorder."

Two days earlier, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) issued a statement confirming that "forces of the Deir ez-Zor Military Council, with the participation of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), carried out a wide-scale combing operation in the town of Gharanij," during which "12 gangs were captured in addition to dismantling of ISIS sleeper cells and the liberation of four abducted fighters, emphasizing that the campaign was carried out with the support of local tribes and residents, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security and stability in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor.”

a.k

ANHA