There has been an ongoing struggle between occupier and occupied in the north east of Syria.This was to be expected. Contrary to all the nonsense pushed through the perception managing media there has never been anything egalitarian about the Kurdish occupation/annexing force.Go back to April 29/19: SitRep Syria: KurdIShIS/ Smuggling Syrian Oil for Usrael Arms/Idlib And Still More...
US Backed SDF/YPG/PKK open fire on Syria anti occupation Protestors
- "Popular protests against the US-backed SDF militias have expanded to include villages and towns of al-Shahil, al-Sour, and Mweileh in the northeastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. The SDF militias on Saturday opened fire on the civilians in al-Hisan village in which protests continued against the militias for the 3rd consecutive day"
Everybody's 'heros' have shot a number of protestors dead.(snark)
But the Kurdish-led force now faces protests by local Arab tribesmen in Deir el-Zour province demanding better services, jobs and a bigger role in decision-making in the predominantly Arab, oil-rich and fertile region. Though limited to about a dozen villages for now, the demonstrations are a growing challenge to the U.S. and its local partners at a time when President Donald Trump plans to reduce America’s military presence in Syria.
Several rounds of talks between the SDF (PKK) and local officials have so far failed to make progress, leading to concerns the protests could transform into an all-out uprising against the predominantly Kurdish force, founded in 2015 to fight IS and armed by the U.S.
The SDF (PKK) controls nearly a third of Syria, but unlike the provinces of Raqqa and Hassakeh in the north that have large Kurdish populations, Deir el-Zour in the east is almost purely Arab, leading to ethnic tensions between the local population and the Kurdish force.Two years after entering the province in their push against IS, the SDF (PKK) appears to have failed to win the hearts and minds in the region, which suffers from a lack of services, rising crime, fuel shortages and anger over what they see as growing Kurdish influence.
Since SDF began capturing parts of Deir el-Zour in 2017, residents have expressed anger at what they say has been forced recruitment of Arab residents into the SDF, as well as the detention of many on suspicion of links to IS.“People are fed up with the SDF,” said Omar Abu Laila, a Europe-based activist from Deir el-Zour who runs a group that monitors developments in the province. “They are robbing the wealth of the people in the region.”
The protests took a turn for the worse on April 24, when according to Deir el-Zour activists, the U.S.-led coalition and SDF fighters stormed a house in the village of Daman and killed six people, including two women and a child. They said the raid targeted a man called Farhan al-Sarhan, whom the SDF says is linked to IS, a charge that activists deny.
“No to Kurdish occupation,” read one banner carried by protesters, according to images posted on social media.Several meetings have been held over the past weeks between SDF officials and Arab dignitaries from Deir el-Zour to try to ease the tension without success, according to Barabandi and Observatory.An Arab man from Deir el-Zour who took part in the talks, said that “the Kurds have been refusing to make any concessions.” He spoke on condition of anonymity out of concern for his safety.He said the SDF is taking away most of the oil it pumps in Deir el-Zour – about 60,000 barrels a day – and leaves hardly anything behind.
Go back and re/read the post from late April- the smuggling of Syrian oil out through Iraq is discussed.
An SDF official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the protesters so far are a small percentage of Deir el-Zour residents. But the demonstration benefit the Syrian government, its Iranian backers and Turkey, and undermine “our victory against Daesh,” he said, using an Arabic acronym for IS.
Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Observatory, said chaos in eastern Syria is not a good omen for the SDF.“The regime could be the biggest winner from what is happening,” he said.
Meanwhile SAA took control of 3 strategic towns in the Hama/Idlib area:
Syrian government forces reportedly have captured at least three towns from Islamic militias, which control portions of the country's northwest between Idlib and Hama. Arab media also are reporting the government was battling its adversaries in an effort to capture parts of the country's main highway that runs from Damascus to Aleppo. He said the political decision appears to have been made to put an end to the pockets of terrorism around Idlib and that the government is no longer willing to compromise and allow terrorist groups to operate there.
There's been coverage regarding the activity that started last week end
"Russia and Turkey landgrab 'behind fresh Syria bombardment' "
3-Syria: Blow by Blow 3- Idlib, Opening Highways/Taking Higher Ground?
-
Appears a very targeted operation is going on at this moment.
-
I'm thinking a limited operation to take back specific territory.