Arab Tribal and Clan Forces

Arab Tribal and Clan Forces
Leader	Ibrahim al-Hifl
Foundation	25 September 2023
Dates of operation	25 September 2023 – present
Country	Syria
Headquarters	Deir ez-Zor Governorate Raqqa Governorate
Ideology	Arab nationalism Syrian nationalism
Status	Active
Allies	Currently Turkey [1] [2] Syria Formerly (until 2024) Ba'athist Syria Hezbollah [3] Popular Resistance of the Eastern Region [4]
Opponents	Syrian Democratic Forces
Wars	Syrian civil war Eastern Syria insurgency Arab tribal insurgency in Eastern Syria Deir ez-Zor clashes (2023) Syrian conflict (2024–present) SDF–Syrian transitional government clashes (2025–present) 2026 northeastern Syria offensive

Arab Tribal and Clan Forces are an Arab nationalist insurgent group in Deir ez-Zor Governorate that was established to "liberate the Arab lands."

History

Pro-Assad period

The Arab Tribal Forces were established by Ibrahim al-Hifl in September 2023 with the aim of fighting the Syrian Democratic Forces in Deir ez-Zor province. They were supported by Ba'athist Syria. ^[3]

On 8 August 2024, tribal forces launched attacks from areas controlled by Ba'athist Syria, ^[5] which resulted in Arab fighters capturing 10 members of the Syrian Democratic Forces. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 20 vehicles with members of the Baqir Brigade arrived at the Baqir Brigade headquarters in the Deir ez-Zor neighborhood of Dahiya. ^[6]

Pro-Syrian government period

Following the fall of the Assad regime, Arab tribal forces and clans lost one of their financiers. According to a source in Deir ez-Zor, they allied with the Syrian transitional government against Syrian Democratic Forces along with some Arab defectors. ^{[4] [7]}

On 20 January 2025, tribal forces launched an attack on SDF checkpoints, injuring three SDF fighters. ^[4]

On 14 August 2025, clashes erupted between the SDF and Arab Tribal and Clan Forces insurgents; a member of the Forces was killed, three others injured and six SDF members were captured. ^[8]

References

1. Holleis, Jennifer (9 September 2023). "Syria's Deir e-Zour: Unrest quelled without shared roadmap". Deutsche Welle . Archived from the original on 9 September 2023.
2. "Türkiye'den Deyr-Ez Zor'daki çatışmalara ilişkin açıklama". Yeni Akit.
3. Hayek, Abdullah; Robertson, Kyle (15 April 2024). "Profile: Arab Tribal and Clan Forces". Washington Institute for Near East Policy . Retrieved 27 April 2025.
4. "Iran Update, January 20, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. 20 January 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
5. Ali, Salam (8 August 2024). "As Arab forces attack the SDF in Deir e-Zor, Iran pulls the strings". Syria Direct. Translated by Mateo Nelson. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
6. Farhat, Beatrice (8 August 2024). "Clashes between Arab tribes, SDF forces in Syria pose challenge to US". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
7. "A group affiliated with the tribal forces takes control of military points of the SDF militia in the town of Dhiban, east of Deir ez-Zor, and is able to control several sites inside the town, in addition to seizing weapons and equipment. Deir Ez-Zor Governorate". Liveuamap. Map of Syrian Civil War - Syria news and incidents today. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
8. "Dramatic escalation | Ten people killed, wounded and kidnapped in attack on SDF members in Deir Ezzor". SOHR . 14 August 2025.