As Arab forces attack the SDF in Deir e-Zor, Iran pulls the strings

ERBIL/HASAKAH — Heightened security measures remain in place in northeastern Syria following an attack launched by Iran-backed Arab tribal forces against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the eastern Deir e-Zor countryside late Tuesday evening. 

On Wednesday, the United States (US)-backed SDF announced the failure of the attack, which it said was carried out “upon the orders” of Hussam Louka, head of the Syrian regime’s General Intelligence Directorate.

“Our sweep campaign continues against the remnants of the Syrian regime-backed mercenaries who attacked the villages of al-Dhiban, al-Latwa and Abu Hamam” in eastern Deir e-Zor, the SDF said in a statement posted on Facebook. 

Two civilians were killed and five others injured in Dhiban and al-Latwa, while two civilians were also injured in the town of al-Shuhail during the attack that began on Tuesday. The SDF attributed the casualties to “indiscriminate bombardment” of the area by regime forces. 

The SDF controls territory east of the Euphrates River in Syria’s oil-rich Deir e-Zor province, which is administered by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). Damascus, Tehran and affiliated militias control the area to the west. SDF areas have previously been attacked by groups using regime territory as a staging ground. 

According to the official SDF narrative of this week’s events, its Deir e-Zor and Hajin Military Councils repelled an attack by regime forces and affiliated National Defence Forces (NDF) militias. However, media reported on Wednesday that “Arab tribal forces” launched the assault from regime- and Iranian militia-controlled areas west of the Euphrates. Local sources Syria Direct spoke to confirmed this account. 

An audio recording circulated on social media on Wednesday attributed to Ibrahim Jadaan al-Hafel—a member of the Uqaydat tribe and leader of the anti-SDF tribal forces, who is based in regime-held Deir e-Zor. In it, he stressed his forces would press forward in “liberating and cleansing the area of the Qandil terrorist militia,” in reference to Kurdish forces within the SDF. 

At the same time, a video circulated reportedly showing Hashem Masoud al-Sattam, commander of the pro-Iranian Usud al-Uqaydat faction, participating in the attack on the SDF in Deir e-Zor. 

“The attacking groups crossed the Euphrates river from regime and Iranian militia areas by boat and ferry,” one media activist from the eastern Deir e-Zor town of al-Shuhail told Syria Direct. At the same time, “missiles were launched from regime areas targeting the towns of al-Sabha, al-Basira, Ghranij, Abu Hamam and Dhiban,” he added on condition of anonymity for security reasons. 

Armed groups overran SDF security points and service institutions along the Euphrates in al-Basira, al-Sabha, Dhiban, Ghranij and Abu Hamam before the SDF regained control after hours of clashes, the media activist added. 

One official at the SDF military relations office in Deir e-Zor confirmed “the attack targeted military points on the riverside” in these areas. “The Syrian regime, Iranian militias and the NDF mobilized their forces west of the Euphrates two days ago,” he told Syria Direct on Wednesday. 

Despite “the attacking groups fleeing,” he did not rule out “another attack in the coming days.” 

In the hours after midnight on Thursday, the SDF reported its forces were responding to “regime gunmen and NDF mercenaries” who fired on the village of al-Dahla, in eastern Deir e-Zor.

Tension in Hasakah

In the wake of the attack, AANES authorities imposed a curfew in southern and eastern Deir e-Zor until further notice, threatening to prosecute any violators. The curfew includes al-Bariha, al-Basira, al-Huwayij, Dhiban, Ghranij and Abu Hamam.

In Hasakah province, more than 200 kilometers from the affected parts of Deir e-Zor, the SDF-affiliated Internal Security Forces (Asayish) and traffic police shut down roads leading to Syrian regime-controlled security squares in Hasakah city and Qamishli. Roads leading to regime military sectors such as Jabal Kawkab east of Hasakah city were also closed. 

The SDF also barred vehicles from entering regime areas of Hasakah city, installing cement blocks on some streets leading to the security quarter. Civilians were allowed to enter and exit on foot with strict inspection of their identification documents, Syria Direct’s correspondent observed on Wednesday. 

Rather than an attack on Deir e-Zor alone, the SDF views this week’s events as “an organized attack, the goal of which is to provide a helping hand to IS [Islamic state] elements and spread chaos in the area,” as Farhad Shami, the director of the SDF media center, told the AANES’ Qamishli-based Rojava TV channel.

Iranian targets

On August 28, 2023, an Arab uprising against the SDF in Deir e-Zor broke out following the arrest and imprisonment of Ahmed al-Khubail (Abu Khawla), the leader of the SDF-affiliated Deir e-Zor Military Council. At the time, Arab tribal forces took control of southern parts of Deir e-Zor and detained dozens of SDF forces. 

The attacking forces demanded the withdrawal of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG)—the main force of the SDF—from Deir e-Zor, as well as direct coordination between local clans and the US. Those participating hoped to receive US support for their demands, but Washington ultimately sided with the SDF. 

In September 2023, the SDF launched an offensive to regain territory it lost to tribal forces. The operation ended with Ibrahim al-Hafel, the leader of the uprising, fleeing across the river to territory controlled by the regime and Iranian militias. Since then, al-Hafel has coordinated with these forces, despite his previous hostility towards Tehran. 

Read more: Op-Ed: How the US is losing Syria’s tribes to Iran

Washington’s choice to support the SDF during the 2023 uprising strengthened Iranian influence among Arab tribes, pushing many leaders to ally with Iran, Turkish researcher Ömer Özkizilcik argued in an analysis Syria Direct published last month.

Sheikhs and notables from the Uqaydat tribe’s al-Bujamel clan released a statement on Thursday condemning this week’s attack and affirming their support for the SDF. The attacking forces “only represent themselves and parties hostile to our clans’ interests,” they said. 

Mahmoud Habib, the spokesperson for the SDF’s Northern Democratic Brigade, cited several reasons for the assault, including “meeting the desires of Iran, which wants to confuse the military scene in the area.” Tehran aims to “expand the scope of the conflict in northeastern Syria, given its strategic importance, and expand the territory of its affiliated militias” while “threatening the American bases east of the Euphrates,” he told Syria Direct. 

The US-led international coalition provided air support to the SDF as it responded, Habib said, noting its role would “escalate if Iran escalates its operations.” 

Habib warned of “serious repercussions” for northeastern Syria if Iran chooses further escalation. “The choice of war is in Tehran’s hands,” he said. “Regime forces and its affiliated militias in the region are nothing but tools.” 

This report was originally published in Arabic and translated into English by Mateo Nelson.