The United States has called for an end to fighting in eastern Syria between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-dominated coalition it supports, and local Arab groups that have killed 45 people since Sunday.
The violence was triggered by the arrest on Sunday of the head of the military council of Deir Ezzor, a local Arab armed group linked to the SDF.
“The violence in northeastern Syria must stop,” the American military command in the Middle East (Centcom) said in a statement, reiterating its support for the SDF.
“Efforts must refocus on maintaining peace and stability (…) away from the threat of Daesh,” said the press release on Thursday evening.
The US Embassy in Syria also called on “all parties to de-escalate and find a peaceful solution” on Friday.
With support from Washington, the FDS led the offensive that defeated ISIS in Syria in 2019. It controls a semi-autonomous Kurdish zone in the northeast of the country, including entire parts of Deir Ezzor province.
The fighting takes place not far from the Conoco gas field. The international coalition, whose largest contingent is Americans, maintains bases in this area as well as in Al-Omar, the largest in Syria.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH), five supporters of Ahmad al-Khabil, nicknamed Abu Khawla, the head of the Deir Ezzor military council who was arrested on Sunday, were killed on the night of Thursday to Friday.
Their deaths bring to 45 the number of people killed in clashes since Sunday, including five civilians and 17 members of the FDS, the OSDH told AFP on Friday.
The reasons for the arrest of the council’s chairman, Ahmad al-Khabil, nicknamed Abou Khawla, were not given, but the OSDH and a local activist told AFP that he was known for his smuggling activities, which made him a significant fortune over the years.
The Kurdish semi-autonomous zone administers the region through local civil and military councils to avoid disaffected local tribes, almost all Arabs, whose loyalties waver. Some supported IS during its rise to power, the OSDH said.