Exploitation "tribal" names, attempts to destabilize the security, stability of Deir ez-Zor

Security agencies linked to the government of Damascus and their supporters in the Syrian crisis are once again seizing opportunities by launching attacks on the headquarters and bases of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) deployed on the north-eastern bank of the Euphrates River bed in Deir ez-Zor canton by forming new armed groups under the cover of clans.

Deir-ez-Zor Canton is of paramount strategic importance, as it lies on the Syrian-Iraqi border. It has the largest stock of wealth on and in the ground, with the largest gas and oil fields in Syria, such as the Omar, al-Taym, al-Ward, al-Tanak, and Koniko fields, which account for 24% of Syrian output.

Deir-ez-Zor Canton is clan-based and is part of the tribal areas of Syria and its largest tribes, al-Akidat, al-Bakaara, and al-Qala'in.

There are five forces deployed in the province; between local and international; in the northern bank, the bases of the SDF  that liberated the area from ISIS/ Daesh, as well as the forces of the International Coalition; and on the southern bank, the Damascus government forces and others supported by Iran, along with ISIS mercenary cells, have been deployed, transforming the area into a conflict and escalation of the parties.

The bodies of the Damascus government and those supported by Iran have not stopped investing in armed groups under clan names to incite and inflame the intra-fighting in the area, aimed at establishing control over the areas liberated since 2019 in Deir-ez-Zor from the ISIS mercenaries and at placing their hands on the oil wells in them primarily, according to the statements of the Syrian Democratic Forces and Security Forces relating to that canton.

These parties are moving under clan names in an effort to suggest that there is clan rejection of the presence of the Syrian Democratic Forces and to cover their ends, the last of which was a few days ago. Security agencies of the Government of Damascus, which supplies weapons to these groups, have formed a new military body called" Bu Shaaban Saraya" that threatens North and East Syria, benefiting the elders and the leaders of the clans of the canton.

The use of those labels to trigger a civil conflict is illustrated by the prompt response of the Bu Shaaban al-Zubaidi tribe in the Levant through a brief statement, in which it said: "These people who have come out represent only themselves, and those who have come out are a bunch of mercenaries with agendas trying to mess with the stability of the region."

In its statement, the Bu Shaaban tribe revealed: "These movements are a game of regime tricks and its militia, which has failed several times to try to create discord between the components of the Arab clans present in the areas of SDF."

Before the formation of this body, suspicious names were used such as “The Movement of the Sons of the Jazira and the Euphrates", “The Lions of the Creeds Brigade,” and “The Hashemite Tribes Regiment,” made up of what remained of ISIS mercenary cells, which carried out operations against the headquarters and bases of the Syrian Democratic Forces and the International Coalition, on What intelligence sources within the Syrian Democratic Forces reported.

According to the same source, financial assistance to these groups, including weapons and ammunition, is provided by the security agencies of the Government of Damascus, while personalities associated with Iranian-backed forces, and another of the mandates given by the so-called "Hasham al-Sattam" by Nawaf Raghd al-Bashir, are accredited.

Another military source revealed to ANHA's agency that the clan elders in the areas controlled by the Damascus government at Deir-ez-Zor were "captured under house arrest, unable to refuse what is being dictated, and therefore carry out the agenda they are being asked to do, as they are not decision makers, captured by the security services of the Government of Damascus and persons counted on Iran."

These clans, which are deployed in the Damascus Government areas of control in Deir-ez-Zor, are all followed by tribes whose elders and leaders live within the areas of Democratic Autonomous Administration, namely, the "Bakrah, al-Akidat, and al-Busraia," and in all the events in the canton, their elders are quick to point out that there is no connection between the tribes with these groups.

T/ Satt.

ANHA