Eastern Syria insurgency (2017–present)

The Eastern Syria insurgency is an armed insurgency being waged by remnants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and both pro and anti-Syrian government Arab nationalist insurgents against the self-declared Democratic Federation of Northern Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces and their allies in the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF–OIR) coalition. Opposition groups criticized the dominance of the SDF by the Kurdish-led People's Protection Units (YPG) and accused it and the Democratic Union Party (PYD) of displacement and marginalization of Arabs in the areas it control. Other complaints include a lack of humanitarian attention, conscription by the Self-Defence Forces (HXP), and other abuses.

Background
The insurgency began after a series of campaigns between 2016 and 2017 targeting ISIL's territory by the American-led CJTF-OIR coalition and SDF, the Syrian government and allied forces, and Turkey along with the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army eventually leading to the ousting of ISIL from its capital in Raqqa and surrounding areas in the Aleppo Governorate, Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor largely populated by Arabs with Turkmen minorities causing tensions with Kurdish rule and occupation. Multiple factions made up mostly by Arabs have formed armed groups in both support of the Syrian Opposition and Syrian Government, as well ISIL remnants operating as clandestine cells have emerged in areas captured by SDF and the coalition between 2016 and 2017 and have utilized guerilla tactics to target the Coalition and SDF forces. Methods include assassinations, hit and run attacks, rocket attacks and use of improvised explosive devices.

Locations of attacks range across cities held by Rojava but include Manbij, Raqqah and Hasakah. Several protests have also occurred throughout cities with large Arab populations against Rojava's rule.

Timeline
In November 2017, Harakat al-Qiyam utilized an IED in attempt to assassinate SDF commander Muhammad Abu Adel leaving him injured in Manbij.

On 27 March 2018, An SDF spy was killed by unidentified gunmen, it was alleged that the Popular Resistance carried out the killing. On 21 May 2018, Three US soldiers were killed in Hasakah after their vehicles crashed, local media outlets alleged anti-coalition insurgents were behind the crash.



On 2 September 2018, 5 SDF militiamen were killed and wounded by an IED planted in Raqqah.

On 31 October 2018, The Turkish military and Syrian Democratic Forces began clashes with stated future goals of a Turkish-led operation in Manbij, the fighting lasted one week, with the United States responding by establishing observation posts in Manbij to prevent further violence.

On 2 November 2018, ISIL gunmen assassinated the prominent tribal leader Sheikh Basheer Faisal al-Huwaidi in broad daylight in the city of Raqqa.

On 4 November 2018, A car bomb exploded in the city of Raqqa, killing at least a person and injuring 10 more people including members of the SDF, ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack through its Amaq News Agency.

On 26 November 2018, Both ISIL and Harakat al-Qiyam claimed to kill a member of the Manbij Military Council named Hamza Zaza.

On 4 December 2018, YPG claimed to have arrested 4 members of Harakat al-Qiyam allegedly collaborating with Turkish intelligence.

On 12 December 2018, ISIL carried out multiple attacks against Rojava in Raqqa, Manbij and Shaddadi. The attack in Raqqa included the use of small arms and IEDs on SDF fighters, while the attack in Shaddadi was a stabbing.

On 27 December 2018, ISIL claimed an attack on SDF in the village of Darnaj in the Eastern Deir Ez Zor governorate resulting in the death of 20 fighters from SDF.

On 29 December 2018, ISIL claimed to have carried out a series of attacks against YPG positions in the city of Raqqa and parts of the Deir Ez Zor countryside, the attacks included the use of IEDs, small arms and ambushes.

On 16 January 2019, an explosion went off in the city of Manbij, killing 4 US soldiers as well as fighters from the Manbij Military Council. In total at least 19 people lost their lives. The attack was claimed by ISIL through their news agency Amaq.

On 21 January, an ISIL suicide car bomb targeted a US convoy accompanied by SDF troops on the Shadadi-Al-Hasakah road in Al-Hasakah province, killing five SDF personnel. Witnesses say the SVBIED rammed into an SDF vehicle by a checkpoint held by Kurdish forces a dozen kilometers outside Shadadi as the US convoy drove past. No Americans were harmed.