US calls for stop to deadly clashes between Kurdish, Arab allies in eastern Syria

News Desk - The Cradle 

At least 45 people have died since violent fighting started between two US-backed groups in Deir Ezzor five days ago

US officials called for an end to five days of clashes between their allies in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Arab tribes from Deir Ezzor governorate who had previously partnered with Washington's occupation army.

The clashes, which broke out late on Sunday, have left at least 45 dead and dozens more injured.

The violence started when the SDF detained the leader of the Deir Ezzor Military Council (DEMC), Abu Khawla, as well as other council members, after inviting them to a meeting in Hasakah. He was accused of “multiple crimes and violations,” including drug trafficking, and of making contact with "external entities hostile to the revolution,” in reference to the Syrian government and its Russian and Iranian allies.

Abu Khawla later posted a video asking the prominent Al-Akidat tribe to rescue him and besiege all SDF headquarters to force them to release the council’s leaders, stressing that “it is not about Abu Khawla anymore, but a conflict between Arabs and Kurds.”

In response, Arab tribal fighters burnt tires, ambushed vehicles, and shelled SDF positions in towns across the province, as well as taking over several checkpoints and attacking SDF patrols.

Local news outlet DeirEzzor24 reported that on Thursday, US choppers were seen flying over areas where the fighting had taken place the day before.

“Distractions from this critical work create instability and increase the risk of [an ISIS] resurgence,” the US military said in its statement. “The violence in northeast Syria must cease, and the effort returned to creating peace and stability in northeast Syria, free from the threat of ISIS.”

While the White House claims its troops are present in Syria to confront ISIS, Russian intelligence and Syrian locals say Washington's forces house and train extremist militants in the 55-kilometer-zone surrounding the Al-Tanf occupation base in southeast Syria.

Furthermore, local reports from Syria say recent ISIS attacks in Syria have been carried out from the direction of US-occupied oil fields in Deir Ezzor and Hasakah governorates.

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR), Syria is witnessing the "most violent" escalation in ISIS activities since it was "eliminated geographically" in 2019.