A new conflict that broke out in Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria has the potential to undermine the already tense region. Clashes erupted in late August between the US-backed Kurdish-Arab alliance (SDF) and local Arab tribes, and have already claimed dozens of lives.
The clashes began following the SDF's arrest of the leader of a local Arab militia, which until now had been working in cooperation with the Kurds in the Deir ez-Zor province. The militia leader, known as Abu Khola, served as a commander in the military council of the SDF in Deir ez-Zor and was accused of drug trafficking, abuse of his position, and failure in the fight against ISIS in the area. Immediately after the arrest, the SDF announced that it had launched an operation against ISIS terrorist cells, but events developed into violent clashes between the local Arab tribes and the SDF.
According to reports, over 50 civilians were killed in the clashes, which have expanded to the al-Hasakah area in the north and even as far as Aleppo district. A few days later, a call by local sheikh Ibrahim al-Hafal to join the battles against the organization, although for years he had expressed support for the SDF, added to the tension and sparked
Undermining the alliance between the SDF leadership and the local tribes may entail negative potential, first and foremost for the US forces operating in Syria for the struggle against ISIS, given its the cooperation with the alliance. The potential beneficiaries from the turn of events are the Syrian regime, Iran, and Russia, which are interested in pushing the US out of eastern Syria, and the created vacuum may facilitate Iranian entrenchment efforts in the region.
On the other hand, ISIS cells might also take advantage of the alliance's weakness to strengthen their position in the region. The US, for its part, is troubled by the effects of the events on the fighting against ISIS, and has already begun efforts to bridge the gap between the parties in order to bring about a quick end to the conflicts and prevent the disintegration of the important alliance.
A new conflict that broke out in Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria has the potential to undermine the already tense region. Clashes erupted in late August between the US-backed Kurdish-Arab alliance (SDF) and local Arab tribes, and have already claimed dozens of lives.
The clashes began following the SDF's arrest of the leader of a local Arab militia, which until now had been working in cooperation with the Kurds in the Deir ez-Zor province. The militia leader, known as Abu Khola, served as a commander in the military council of the SDF in Deir ez-Zor and was accused of drug trafficking, abuse of his position, and failure in the fight against ISIS in the area. Immediately after the arrest, the SDF announced that it had launched an operation against ISIS terrorist cells, but events developed into violent clashes between the local Arab tribes and the SDF.
According to reports, over 50 civilians were killed in the clashes, which have expanded to the al-Hasakah area in the north and even as far as Aleppo district. A few days later, a call by local sheikh Ibrahim al-Hafal to join the battles against the organization, although for years he had expressed support for the SDF, added to the tension and sparked
Undermining the alliance between the SDF leadership and the local tribes may entail negative potential, first and foremost for the US forces operating in Syria for the struggle against ISIS, given its the cooperation with the alliance. The potential beneficiaries from the turn of events are the Syrian regime, Iran, and Russia, which are interested in pushing the US out of eastern Syria, and the created vacuum may facilitate Iranian entrenchment efforts in the region.
On the other hand, ISIS cells might also take advantage of the alliance's weakness to strengthen their position in the region. The US, for its part, is troubled by the effects of the events on the fighting against ISIS, and has already begun efforts to bridge the gap between the parties in order to bring about a quick end to the conflicts and prevent the disintegration of the important alliance.