TAL ABYAD, Syria
Seven locations in eastern Syria saw fighting between Arab tribes and the US-backed terror group PKK/YPG, in an escalation of tensions in the province of Deir ez-Zor, sources said on Thursday.
Arab tribes clashed with PKK/YPG terrorists last night in the eastern and southeastern rural areas of Deir ez-Zor, according to local sources.
Arab tribes targeted the terrorists’ road checkpoints, headquarters, and vehicles in the town of Al-Baghuz, which was the scene of clashes, and also in the villages of Kishkiyyeh, Jenina, Izbe, Abu Hamam, Ziban, and As Suwayda.
Arab tribes captured six PKK/YPG terrorists during the raid in Jenina. The terrorists had detained a 16-year-old in the village of Izbe whose fate is unknown.
There were clashes between Arab tribes and PKK/YPG terrorists at seven points on Jan. 7.
In areas occupied by the PKK/YPG in Deir ez-Zor, clashes have been occurring sporadically since last August between oppressed Arab tribes and terrorists.
Arab tribes cleared 33 villages of terrorists in the Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and Hasakah provinces, as well as the Manbij district of Aleppo, by carrying out attacks last August and September.
But the tribal forces later withdrew from the villages to prevent civilian casualties from YPG/PKK attacks and agreed to negotiate with US forces, who work with the terrorist YPG/PKK.
PKK/YPG occupation in Deir ez-Zor
The entire population of Deir ez-Zor, which the terror group has occupied under the pretext of fighting Daesh/ISIS with the support of the US military, consists of Arabs.
The terror group forcibly conscripts Arab minors in areas it occupies.
The terrorists generate income by selling oil to Damascus through smugglers, from seized oil wells in the region, despite US sanctions. While the YPG/PKK uses the income for its purposes, residents in the region are deprived of services and much-needed aid.
In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US and the European Union – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is its Syrian branch.
Neighboring Türkiye has long opposed the US – its NATO ally – giving arms and support to the terrorist YPG/PKK, saying that using one terrorist group to fight another makes no sense, and pointing to the threat to locals and the Turkish border regions posed by the YPG/PKK.
