Deir ez-Zor Governorate clashes

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Deir ez-Zor Governorate clashes (April 2018)
Part of the Deir ez-Zor Governorate campaign of the Syrian civil war
Date29 April 2018
Location
Eastern bank of the Euphrates, Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria
Status

Inconclusive, minor Syrian government gains

  • Syrian pro-government forces capture four villages [1]
  • USA helps the SDF recaptures all four villages (per SDF) [1] or at least three (per SOHR) [2]
Belligerents
Flag of Syria.svg Syrian government Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg Syrian Democratic Forces
Seal of Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve.svg CJTF–OIR [3] [4]
Casualties and losses
9 killed [5] 6 killed, [5] 22 wounded [2]

On 29 April 2018, clashes took place between Syrian government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Deir ez-Zor Governorate.

Contents

Background

Tensions between the Syrian Army and the Syrian Democratic Forces in the eastern bank of the Euphrates of Deir ez-Zor Governorate have always been high following the liberation of Deir ez-Zor city from ISIL and the SDF's capture of large parts of the area following its offensive against ISIL with CJTF–OIR support. On 16 September 2017, either Syrian or Russian aircraft bombed SDF positions on the eastern bank. [6] On 25 September, Russian and Syrian forces shelled SDF forces in the nearby Conoco gas field. [7] [8] [9] Between 7 February and 8 February 2018, clashes between the SDF and pro-Syrian government forces near Khasham resulted in US airstrikes on pro-government forces which killed dozens of pro-government militiamen, including contractors of the Russian private military company Wagner Group. [10] Additional armed incidents took place in the following weeks. [11] [12]

Tensions between the two backers of the Syrian government and Syrian Democratic Forces, Russia and the United States respectively, had also risen before the clashes due to the alleged Douma chemical attack and the subsequent missile strikes against the Syrian government by the US, France and the United Kingdom.

A few days before the clashes, there were claims that the SDF were going to restart anti-ISIL operations in co-ordination with the US-led coalition near the Iraq–Syria border in Deir ez-Zor Governorate. [13] The previous offensive against ISIL in the region was postponed due to the Turkish offensive against SDF forces in Afrin. [14] [15]

Clashes

On 29 April, the Syrian Army attacked and captured four SDF-held villages on the eastern side of the Euphrates river in Deir ez-Zor Governorate. [1] According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), nine pro-government and six SDF-affiliated fighters were killed in the clashes. [5] SDF spokesperson Kino Gabriel claimed that the clashes were "supporting terrorism and an attempt to obstruct the war against terrorism". [16] Several hours later, the SDF claimed they recaptured all of the villages they lost, [1] [17] although the SOHR reported three of the four villages had been recaptured by the SDF. [2] Some local sources claimed that US-led coalition jets hit pro-government forces attacking the SDF, [3] [4] although the Pentagon stated they only conducted warning airstrikes and did not hit the pro-government troops directly. [18]

See also

Related Research Articles

Hajin is a small city in eastern Syria, administratively part of the Deir ez-Zor Governorate, located along the Euphrates River, south of Deir ez-Zor. Nearby localities include al-Abbas to the west, al-Ramadi to the south and Gharanij to the north. According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics, Hajin had a population of 37,935 in the 2004 census. It is the administrative center of a nahiyah ("subdistrict") of the Abu Kamal District. The Hajin subdistrict consists of four towns which had a collective population of 97,970 in 2004. The al-Shaitat tribe is the largest tribe in the area. The town was captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces on 14 December 2018 in the Battle of Hajin, after a week and a half of heavy clashes and intense airstrikes by the United States-led Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve international coalition, and has since been part of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deir ez-Zor Governorate campaign</span> Military operation

The Deir ez-Zor Governorate campaign of the Syrian civil war consists of several battles and offensives fought across the governorate of Syria:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deir ez-Zor offensive (2016)</span> ISIL military operation

The Deir ez-Zor offensive (2016) was an ISIL military operation, during which it took over the northern suburbs of Deir ez-Zor on 16 January 2016, and killed from 135 to 300 people, while also kidnapping about 400 others.

The September 2016 Deir ez-Zor air raid was a series of 37 U.S.-led Coalition airstrikes near the Deir ez-Zor Airport in eastern Syria on 17 September 2016, lasting from 3:55 p.m. to 4:56 p.m. Damascus time in which Syrian Arab Army (SAA) soldiers were killed conducting operations against the Islamic State. Russia reported that at least 62 SAA soldiers were killed, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said at least 80 were killed and 120 wounded. The United States said that the intended target was Islamic State militants and that the attack on Syrian soldiers was due to a misidentification of ground forces while the Syrian and Russian governments claimed that it was an intentional attack against Syrian troops. The attack triggered "a diplomatic firestorm" with Russia calling an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting. Later, the Syrian government called off a ceasefire that had been the result of months of intense diplomatic efforts by the U.S. and Russian governments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raqqa campaign (2016–2017)</span> 2016–17 military operation in Syria

The Raqqa campaign was a military operation launched in November 2016 during the Rojava–Islamist conflict by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Raqqa Governorate, with the goal of isolating and eventually capturing the Islamic State's capital city, Raqqa. The SDF's subsidiary goals included capturing the Tabqa Dam, the nearby city of al-Thawrah, and the Baath Dam further downstream. The campaign ended successfully in October 2017, with the capture of Raqqa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Deir ez-Zor (2014–2017)</span> Siege in the Syrian Civil War

The siege of Deir ez-Zor was a large-scale siege imposed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) against several districts in the city of Deir ez-Zor held by the Syrian Army, in an attempt to capture the city and secure full control of the Deir ez-Zor Governorate. The ISIL siege of the city lasted for almost 3 years and 2 months, after which the Syrian Army launched a successful offensive that fully recaptured the city nine weeks later.

The following is a timeline of the Syrian Civil War from September to December 2017. Information about aggregated casualty counts is found at Casualties of the Syrian Civil War.

The Deir ez-Zor campaign, codenamed the al-Jazeera Storm campaign, was a military operation launched by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria's Deir ez-Zor Governorate in 2017 during the Syrian Civil War with the goal of capturing territory in eastern Syria, particularly east and north of the Euphrates river. The U.S.-led Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF–OIR) anti-ISIL coalition provided extensive air support while SDF personnel composed the majority of the ground forces; OIR special forces and artillery units were also involved in the campaign.

The 2017 Euphrates Crossing offensive was a military offensive launched by the Syrian Arab Army against members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate, following the breaking of the three-year siege of the city of Deir ez-Zor. The Euphrates Crossing offensive, conducted by government troops, was done with the aim of denying US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and the US itself leverage over the Syrian government.

The 2017 Mayadin offensive was a military offensive launched by the Syrian Arab Army against members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate, following the breaking of the three-year siege of the city of Deir ez-Zor. The Mayadin offensive, conducted by Syrian Army troops, was conducted with the aim of capturing ISIL's new de facto capital of Mayadin, and securing the villages and towns around it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deir ez-Zor offensive (September–November 2017)</span> Military operation launched by the Syrian Armed Forces

The Deir ez-Zor offensive was a military operation launched by the Syrian Armed Forces to completely expel the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) from the city of Deir ez-Zor, a provincial capital, located on the banks of the Euphrates river. From 2014 until 2017, the city had been divided into Syrian government and ISIL-controlled halves. The rest of the Governorate (province) was under ISIL control for most of this time, putting the government-controlled half of the city under siege.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Syria campaign (September–December 2017)</span> Military operation

The Eastern Syria campaign of September–December 2017 was a large-scale military operation of the Syrian Army (SAA) and its allies against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) during the Syrian Civil War. Its goal was to clear the city of Deir ez-Zor of any remaining ISIL forces, capture ISIL's de facto capital of Mayadin, as well as seize the border town of Abu Kamal, which became one of ISIL's final urban strongholds by the latter stages of the campaign.

Khasham, also romanized as Khusham or Khsham, is a Syrian town located in Deir ez-Zor District, Deir ez-Zor Governorate. According to the Syrian Central Bureau of Statistics, Khasham had a population of 7,021 in the 2004 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Khasham</span> 2018 battle of the Syrian Civil War

The Battle of Khasham, also known as the Battle of Conoco Fields, was a military engagement of the Syrian civil war fought on 7 February 2018 near the towns of Khasham and Al Tabiyeh in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria. The Operation Inherent Resolve coalition delivered air and artillery strikes on Syrian Armed Forces and pro-government militias after they reportedly engaged a U.S. military and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) position in the region.

The Deir ez-Zor offensive (2018) was launched by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant against government-held areas throughout the Deir ez-Zor Governorate of Eastern Syria. During the offensive, on 8 June, ISIL managed to penetrate the city of Abu Kamal, capturing several parts of it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Syria insurgency</span> Armed insurgency

The Eastern Syria insurgency is an armed insurgency being waged by remnants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and both pro and anti-Syrian government Arab nationalist insurgents, against the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), its military, and their allies in the US-led Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF–OIR) coalition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deir ez-Zor Military Council</span> Arab-majority militia of the Syrian Democratic Forces

The Deir ez-Zor Military Council is an Arab-majority militia of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), based in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate.

The following is a timeline of the Syrian civil war for 2021. Information about aggregated casualty counts is found at Casualties of the Syrian civil war.

The following is a timeline of the Syrian civil war for 2022. Information about aggregated casualty counts is found in Casualties of the Syrian civil war.

Starting on 27 August 2023, an escalation of violence occurred across Deir ez-Zor Governorate in eastern Syria. The clashes began after the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is the military force of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) arrested the military commander of Deir ez-Zor Military Council known by the name of Abu Khawla, accusing him of corruption and unlawful activity. Abu Khawla has the support of some Arab tribes in Deir-Ez-Zor. The arrest led to a spiraling cycle of violence that escalated when tribal gunmen launched an offensive against the SDF in the region. As a result of the ongoing clashes, tribal fighters managed to take control of some towns and villages. However, a counterattack by the SDF regained control of all lost areas by 7 September 2023. The SDF officially termed the counter-attack Operation Security Reinforcement. Another, short-lived rebellion took place from 25 to 27 September, inspired by an attack by pro-Syrian government militias from across the Euphrates; this uprising was quickly defeated by the SDF.

References

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  2. 1 2 3 Syrian troops briefly take villages east of Euphrates river
  3. 1 2 U.S.-backed forces say they regain villages seized by Syrian army
  4. 1 2 Syria: SDF reclaim territory hours after government capture
  5. 1 2 3 "Syria regime, US-backed forces in deadly clashes: Monitor". Archived from the original on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  6. Francis, Ellen (16 September 2017). "Jets strike U.S.-backed forces in eastern Syria". Reuters.
  7. "U.S.-backed militias says Russian jets struck its fighters in east Syria". Reuters . 25 September 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  8. Illingworth, Andrew (25 September 2017). "BREAKING: Russian warplanes bomb Kurdish forces in east Deir Ezzor: reports". al-Masdar News . Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
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  10. O'Connor, Tom (12 February 2018). "The U.S.-led coalition killed Russians in airstrikes against pro-Syrian government forces, reports say". Newsweek. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  11. Kube, Courtney (13 February 2018). "U.S. airstrike destroys Russian-made tank used by pro-Syria forces". NBC News. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  12. Stewart, Phil (13 February 2018). "U.S. drone destroys Russian-made tank in Syria". Reuters . Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  13. "SDF return to Deir ez-Zor front with ISIS: coalition". Rudaw. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  14. "Battle against Isil 'paused in Syria' as Kurdish fighters battle Turkey". Telegraph. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  15. US-backed Syria force to redeploy 1,700 from IS fight to Afrin
  16. "You are being redirected..." www.nrttv.com. Archived from the original on 29 April 2018.
  17. "SDF Regain Control of Villages Near Euphrates Captured by Syrian Army". Murasolen. 29 April 2018. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  18. Illingworth, Andrew (30 April 2018). "Update: US warplanes purposely avoided striking Syrian Army during Deir Ezzor attack, only fired warning shots – Pentagon". Archived from the original on 26 June 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.