| Deir ez-Zor Governorate clashes (April 2018) | |||||||
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| Part of the Syrian Civil War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Syrian government Wagner Group (SDF claim)[1] |
 Syrian Democratic Forces CJTF–OIR[2][3] | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 9 killed[5] | 6 killed,[5] 22 wounded[1] | ||||||
On 29 April 2018, clashes took place between Syrian government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Deir ez-Zor Governorate.
Background[]
Tensions between the Syrian government and Syrian Democratic Forces in the eastern bank of the Euphrates of Deir ez-Zor Governorate have always been high following the liberation of Deir ez-Zor city and the SDF's capture of large parts of the area following its offensive against ISIS with CJTF–OIR support. On 16 September 2017, either Syrian or Russian aircraft bombed SDF positions on the eastern bank.[6] On 25 September, Russian and Syrian forces shelled SDF forces in the nearby Conoco gas field.[7][8][9] Between 7 February and 8 February 2018, clashes between the SDF and Syrian government near Khasham resulted in US airstrikes on pro-government forces which killed a number of pro-government soldiers allegedly including contractors of the Russian private military company Wagner Group.[10] Additional armed incidents took place in the following weeks.[11][12]
Tensions between the two backers of the Syrian government and Syrian Democratic Forces, Russia and the United States, had also risen before the clashes due to the alleged Douma chemical attack and the subsequent missile strikes against the Syrian government by the US, France and the United Kingdom.
A few days before the clashes, there were claims that the SDF were going to restart anti-ISIS operations in co-ordination with the US-led coalition near the Iraq–Syria border in Deir ez-Zor Governorate.[13] The previous offensive against ISIS in the region was postponed due to the Turkish offensive against SDF forces in Afrin.[14][15]
Clashes[]
On 29 April, the Syrian Army took control of four villages on the eastern sides of the Euphrates river in Deir ez-Zor Governorate.[4] According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), nine pro-government and six SDF-affiliated fighters were killed in the clashes.[5] SDF spokesperson Kino Gabriel claimed that the clashes were "supporting terrorism and an attempt to obstruct the war against terrorism".[16] Several hours later, the SDF claimed they recaptured all of the villages they lost,[4][17] although the SOHR reported three of the four villages had been recaptured by the SDF.[1] Some local sources claimed that US-led coalition jets hit pro-government forces attacking the SDF,[2][3] although the Pentagon stated they only conducted warning air-strikes and did not hit the pro-government troops directly.[18]
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Syrian troops briefly take villages east of Euphrates river
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 U.S.-backed forces say they regain villages seized by Syrian army
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Syria: SDF reclaim territory hours after government capture
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "U.S.-backed forces say they regain villages seized by Syrian army". Reuters. 29 April 2018. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-euphrates/syrian-army-says-captured-villages-from-u-s-backed-forces-idUSKBN1I00EX.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Syria regime, US-backed forces in deadly clashes: Monitor
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ "U.S.-backed militias says Russian jets struck its fighters in east Syria". Reuters. 25 September 2017. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-sdf/u-s-backed-militias-says-russian-jets-struck-its-fighters-in-east-syria-idUSKCN1C0118?il=0. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
- ↑ Andrew Illingworth (25 September 2017). "BREAKING: Russian warplanes bomb Kurdish forces in east Deir Ezzor: reports". al-Masdar News. https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-russian-warplanes-bomb-kurdish-forces-east-deir-ezzor-reports/. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
- ↑ Andrew Illingworth (25 September 2017). "Syrian Army, Russian artillery shells Kurdish forces in east Deir Ezzor: reports [Update"]. al-Masdar News. https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-artillery-shells-kurdish-forces-deir-ezzor-reports-update/. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
- ↑ "The U.S.-led coalition killed Russians in airstrikes against pro-Syrian government forces, reports say" (in en). Newsweek. 2018-02-12. http://www.newsweek.com/us-military-kills-russians-syria-airstrikes-against-assad-supporters-reports-803949.
- ↑ U.S. airstrike destroys Russian-made tank used by pro-Syria forces NBC News, 13 February 2018.
- ↑ Phil Stewart (13 February 2018). "U.S. drone destroys Russian-made tank in Syria". Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-usa-syria-tank/u-s-drone-destroys-russian-made-tank-in-syria-idUSKCN1FX2SJ. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ "Battle against Isil 'paused in Syria' as Kurdish fighters battle Turkey". Telegraph. 6 March 2018. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/06/battle-against-isil-paused-syria-kurdish-fighters-battle-turkey/.
- ↑ US-backed Syria force to redeploy 1,700 from IS fight to Afrin
- ↑ [3]
- ↑ "SDF Regain Control of Villages Near Euphrates Captured by Syrian Army". Murasolen. 29 April 2018. https://muraselon.com/en/2018/04/sdf-us-syrian-army-villages-euphrates/.
- ↑ Update: US warplanes purposely avoided striking Syrian Army during Deir Ezzor attack, only fired warning shots – Pentagon
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The original article can be found at Deir ez-Zor Governorate clashes (April 2018) and the edit history here.