The Deir ez-Zor Military Council is an Arab-majority militia of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), based in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate.
| Deir ez-Zor Military Council | |
|---|---|
| مجلس دير الزور العسكري | |
 Flag of the Deir ez-Zor Military Council | |
| Leaders | |
| Dates of operation | 8 December 2016 – present |
| Group(s) | Gathering of al-Baggara Youth[8] |
| Active regions | |
| Allies | Elite Forces Al-Sanadid Forces People's Protection Units Martyr Amara Arab Women's Battalion[9] |
| Battles and wars | |
History
edit
On 8 December 2016 the Deir ez-Zor Military Council was created during a SDF conference in Hasaka. The members consist of remnants of the former armed rebel council of the same name, expelled from the city by the Islamic State in 2014, having joined the SDF in November 2016.[12][13] However, the pro-opposition Deir ez-Zor 24 organization denied that the military council's commander, known as Abu Khawla, was a commander in any FSA group.[14]
On 11 December, the council stated that after completing the second phase of the Northern Raqqa offensive they will redirect their focus to Deir ez-Zor Governorate.[3]
On 25 August 2017, 800 fighters left the Elite Forces and were integrated into the ranks of the SDF and its Deir ez-Zor Military Council. The fighters accused the Elite Forces of corruption. These forces consisted of 7 units of al-Baggara and al-Shaitat tribal fighters stationed in the eastern Raqqa and southern Hasaka countrysides,[11][15] among them the Gathering of al-Baggara Youth, led by Yasser al-Dahla.[5]
On 28 September 2017, Yasser al-Dahla was arrested by SDF military police, which accused Dahla of not effectively participating in the SDF's Deir ez-Zor offensive and the "lack of military discipline". The Gathering of al-Baggara Youth denied these charges, and accused the Deir ez-Zor Military Council of denying Euphrates Shield fighters who defected to the SDF to join the Gathering. Dahla reportedly threatened to cease his group's participation in the Deir ez-Zor offensive.[5] Some time after that incident, Yasser al-Dahla was released. On 9 December 2017, he denied reports that he defected to government forces, while acknowledging the disputes between him and other SDF commanders.[4]
The Deir ez-Zor Military Council clashed with Syrian pro-government forces during the Battle of Khasham,[16] while some fighters of the military council stated in late February 2018 that they wanted to aid the defense of Afrin Region against the Turkish military operation.[17]
On 20 September 2019, protests broke out in areas held by SDF in Deir ez-Zor calling for the withdrawal of Syrian government and Iranian-aligned forces from 7 kilometers of territory near Khasham, after threats from pro-government and Iranian backed forces in Deir ez-Zor such as the Baqir Brigade to attack SDF held areas in the region. In response to the protests, the council's field commander released a statement on behalf of the Deir ez-Zor Military Council to a tribal gathering, that they would fight pro-government and allied forces if they were to attack. At the same time another SDF spokesman denied that SDF was involved in organizing the protests but admitted that SDF took no action against them.[18][19]
On 27 September 2019, protests against the government continued, with protestors demanding that the government withdraw from the eastern banks of the Euphrates and hand it over to SDF, and for SDF's fighters to replace government forces in the area.[20]
On 29 October 2019, the CJTF-OIR coalition bombarded Syrian Army positions in Deir ez-Zor, reportedly in response to the Syrian military shelling SDF-held areas in Deir ez-Zor, following the coalition's bombings clashes were also reported between the Syrian army and SDF in the area during which a Syrian army tank was destroyed.[21]
In August 2023, the Deir ez-Zor Military Council began clashes with the SDF. Local tribes within the Deir ez-Zor Military Council declared that it had full control of six villages within five kilometers of the territory held by the Assad regime near the Euphrates River on August 29 following the withdrawal of the SDF.[22]
References
edit- ^ a b Zana Omar (9 March 2017). "US-backed Forces Find Chemical Weapons Factory in Deir Ezzor". Voice of America.
- ^ a b J.O. (26 February 2017). ""Al-Raqqa isolation from Deir ez-Zor is imminent"". Hawar News Agency. Archived from the original on 14 June 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Leading role in intentionally for "Qassioun": Following the control of tenderness, we are heading towards Diralzor (video)". Qasioun News. 11 December 2016. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Yasser Al-Dahleh, with audio and video, refutes what the media has announced about his break-up and adherence to the regime". Xeber 24. 9 December 2017.
- ^ a b c "Military police of SDF arrest leader of al-Bakkara Youth Gathering Yasser al-Dahla, the defected of Syrian Elite Forces". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 2 October 2017.
- ^ "Wrath of Euphrates announces death of commander in DeirEzzor Military Council Khalid Awad". Syria Live Map. 22 February 2017.
- ^ "More than 40 barrels target the west of Rif Dimashq and more fighters of Syria Democratic Forces killed in clashes at the eastern countryside of Al-Raqqah". SOHR. 22 February 2017.
- ^ "The Gathering of Al-Bakkara Youth continues their battle and get closer to the hometown of the Sheikh of Bakkara". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 10 September 2017.
- ^ "SDF about forming first Arab all-female brigade - ANHA". en.hawarnews.com. Archived from the original on 2017-07-10. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
- ^ "Abu Khoula: SDF's advance east of al-Raqqa prepares for Deir ez-Zor liberation". Hawar News Agency. 18 February 2017. Archived from the original on 9 March 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
- ^ a b Rodi Said (25 August 2017). "U.S.-backed forces to attack Syria's Deir al-Zor soon: SDF official". Reuters.
- ^ Hassan Hassan (27 June 2017). "The Battle for Raqqa and the Challenges after Liberation". Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ ""Intentionally" holding a meeting in the city of Hasaka to all factions". Enab Baladi. 8 December 2016.
- ^ "Who is Abu Khawla Al-Diri that appeared recently as the commander of the SDF-linked Deir Ezzor Military Council ?". Deir Ezzor 24. 11 December 2016. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ "Split seven elite battalions and join Syria's democratic forces". Hawar News Agency. 25 August 2017. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017.
- ^ Andrew Illingworth (9 February 2018). "Breaking: US-led forces launch all-out offensive against Syrian Army in Deir Ezzor". al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ HİVDA HEBUN (23 February 2018). "Fighters in Deir ez-Zor: "We will go to Afrin"". ANF News. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "The 'Seven-kilometer-zone' Makes Regime Anxious In Deir ez-Zor". Enab Baladi. September 23, 2019.
- ^ "Deir ez-Zor: Aktionen gehen bis Rückzug des Regimes weiter". ANF News.
- ^ Desk, News (September 27, 2019). "Demonstrations continue in rural Deir Ezzor, protesters demand withdrawal of Syrian Army". Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "The International coalition sends a strong message to Assad forces, and bombards their artillery in Deir Ezzor". October 29, 2019. Archived from the original on October 30, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
- ^ "Iran Update, August 29, 2023". Critical Threats Project. Retrieved August 29, 2023.