SDF Regains Control Over Major Towns in Deir Ezzor’s Eastern Countryside

Turkish-backed fighters are positioned on the Mahsali and Arab Hasan frontline on the outskirts of Manbij in northeastern Syria as they fight with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), on September 4, 2023. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP)
Turkish-backed fighters are positioned on the Mahsali and Arab Hasan frontline on the outskirts of Manbij in northeastern Syria as they fight with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), on September 4, 2023. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP)
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SDF Regains Control Over Major Towns in Deir Ezzor’s Eastern Countryside

Turkish-backed fighters are positioned on the Mahsali and Arab Hasan frontline on the outskirts of Manbij in northeastern Syria as they fight with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), on September 4, 2023. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP)
Turkish-backed fighters are positioned on the Mahsali and Arab Hasan frontline on the outskirts of Manbij in northeastern Syria as they fight with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), on September 4, 2023. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP)

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) regained control over al-Busayra and the largest part of the al-Shuhayel district and imposed a security cordon on Dhiban and al-Hawaij towns.

The towns, on the bed of the Euphrates River in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor in the east of Syria, are among the largest cities that have witnessed heavy clashes between Arab tribes' militants and fighters who withdrew from the Deir Ezzor Military Council against the SDF forces.

A US-led international coalition against ISIS terrorists supports the SDF.

A senior SDF military official said they held a "positive" meeting with US officials and the commander of the international coalition forces in the presence of Arab tribal sheikhs and elders.

The meeting addressed the situation in the Deir Ezzor countryside and foreign interventions, provided that military operations continue to comb the area and pursue armed groups.

The SDF pushed more reinforcements to the areas that witnessed armed clashes in eastern Syria.

SDF media official Farhad Shami said that the residents of these areas appealed to the Forces to rid them of the armed groups who have wreaked havoc over the past few days in the region.

Shami told Asharq Al-Awsat that the SDF has begun to shift the battles in their favor, calling on the residents to abide by the curfew, and asserting they will hold those responsible for bloodshed accountable for their crimes.

Shami confirmed that the forces are combing the areas surrounding Dhiban, noting that tensions were limited to five towns and 25 villages out of dozens of cities and more than 100 villages in the region.

The areas that witnessed violent armed clashes are among the wealthiest oil areas in Syria, and 900 US soldiers and dozens of foreign forces are deployed as part of their combat missions in fighting ISIS terrorists.

Several areas of the Deir Ezzor’s countryside witnessed violent armed clashes that broke out after the SDF forces removed the leader of the Military Council, Ahmed al-Khabil, last month.

He was arrested on charges of corruption and drug trafficking, which sparked tension between the region's tribesmen that later turned into armed clashes, killing over 50 civilians and soldiers.

Earlier, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Syria, Ethan Goldrich, and Major General Joel Vowell, who heads the coalition against ISIS, met Arab tribal leaders and SDF commanders and agreed to "address local grievances" and "de-escalate violence as soon as possible and avoid casualties."



Lebanon: Mysterious Evacuation Calls Renew Fears of Israeli Strikes

A Lebanese soldier secures participants during a marathon in Beirut last week (AP)
A Lebanese soldier secures participants during a marathon in Beirut last week (AP)
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Lebanon: Mysterious Evacuation Calls Renew Fears of Israeli Strikes

A Lebanese soldier secures participants during a marathon in Beirut last week (AP)
A Lebanese soldier secures participants during a marathon in Beirut last week (AP)

A wave of anonymous phone calls urging residents to evacuate buildings in southern and eastern Lebanon sparked fresh panic on Saturday over potential Israeli attacks. Though the threats later proved to be unfounded and traced to local sources, the incident unfolded amid heightened tensions and the continued presence of Israeli military aircraft in the skies above South Lebanon.

According to local media reports, Lebanese citizens in the town of Tammine in the Bekaa Valley (eastern Lebanon) received phone calls urging them to evacuate a residential building. Security forces immediately launched an investigation into the origin of the calls, while residents evacuated the building as a precaution.

After coordination with Lebanese security agencies, authorities confirmed the caller was Lebanese and the threat lacked credibility. Legal measures were initiated against the individual responsible for the hoax threat.

Security sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the calls were made from within Lebanese territory, and the numbers are being tracked using technical means. “We are monitoring these calls and pursuing those responsible,” a source said.

This incident is the latest in a series of similar events. Over the past few months, especially during the expanded conflict along the Lebanon-Israel border, hundreds of Lebanese citizens have received anonymous calls warning of imminent strikes, spreading fear across communities.

Lebanese authorities have arrested around 20 individuals linked to these threats. Security officials noted that during periods of active conflict, Lebanon’s military intelligence identified coordinated foreign campaigns - some linked to Israel - aimed at inciting fear among the population.

“These calls were part of organized external efforts, and in some cases, the Lebanese army’s intelligence managed to trace and neutralize them by blocking digital access points used to relay such messages,” a security source explained. “They were indeed causing panic among residents.”

Residents, particularly in southern Lebanon, say they have no choice but to treat such calls seriously. Israel has occasionally issued official warnings ahead of attacks, as seen in two incidents in Beirut’s southern suburbs after a ceasefire agreement took effect. However, in other instances, Israeli aircraft have carried out strikes without warning, further fueling concern among civilians and prompting widespread caution.

Saturday’s panic was further heightened by intensified Israeli aerial activity over southern Lebanon. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported low-flying Israeli fighter jets over the villages and towns of Tyre district, as well as over Jezzine and the eastern sector of the south.

Local activists also reported Israeli drones flying at low altitude above the Litani River basin. One drone reportedly dropped two sound bombs over the Wadi al-Asafir area in the town of Khiam.