Protests in Syria's Deir Ezzor Demand Release of Detainees Held by SDF

A photo posted on Facebook shows protests in the town of al-Izba.
A photo posted on Facebook shows protests in the town of al-Izba.
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Protests in Syria's Deir Ezzor Demand Release of Detainees Held by SDF

A photo posted on Facebook shows protests in the town of al-Izba.
A photo posted on Facebook shows protests in the town of al-Izba.

Protests broke out in various towns in Syria’s eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, demanding better living conditions and services and the release of detainees held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Local Syrian news websites published Tuesday photos and videos of protests in the towns of al-Izba, al-Sour and Daman.

According to demonstrators, the SDF detained some members of their “Deir Ezzor Military Council” on charges of communicating with external parties hostile to the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (Rojava).

The residents also called for improving their living conditions and the equitable distribution of oil and fuel.

They blocked the main roads, set tires on fire, and raised banners condemning the arrests of soldiers who were on duty.

Areas held by the SDF and its civil administration have seen several similar protests, mostly demanding better services, the delivery of oil and fuel shares, fighting corruption, and compensation for people who lost their property in the international military operations against ISIS.



Israel Seals off the Occupied West Bank

Palestinians walk by the closed Deir Sharaf checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
Palestinians walk by the closed Deir Sharaf checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
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Israel Seals off the Occupied West Bank

Palestinians walk by the closed Deir Sharaf checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
Palestinians walk by the closed Deir Sharaf checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)

Israel closed all checkpoints to the Israeli-occupied West Bank Friday as the country attacked Iran, a military official said Friday.

The move sealed off entry and exit to the territory, meaning that Palestinians could not leave without special coordination.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity in line with military recommendations.

Around 3 million Palestinians live in the West Bank under Israeli military rule.

With the world’s attention focused on Gaza, Israeli military operations in the West Bank have grown in size, frequency and intensity.

The crackdown has also left tens of thousands unemployed, as they can no longer work the mostly menial jobs in Israel that paid higher wages.

Israel launched a wave of strikes across Iran on Friday that targeted its nuclear program and military sites, killing at least two top military officers and raising the prospect of an all-out war between the two bitter adversaries. It appeared to be the most significant attack Iran has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq.

The strikes came amid simmering tensions over Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program and appeared certain to trigger a reprisal. In its first response, Iran fired more than 100 drones at Israel. Israel said the drones were being intercepted outside its airspace, and it was not immediately clear whether any got through.

Israeli leaders cast the attack as necessary to head off an imminent threat that Iran would build nuclear bombs, though it remains unclear how close the country is to achieving that.