Click to see full-size image. Source: sdf-press.com
The United States-led coalition and its proxies had amassed a large force on the contact line with the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies in the northeastern governorate of Deir Ezzor, Sputnik reported on July 8.
Citing local sources, the Russian news agency said that U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had deployed hundreds of troops and vehicles along the contact line on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River.
“The SDF forces brought in large military reinforcements consisting of more than 500 armored vehicles, including American-made vehicles, from al-Qamishli town in the countryside of al-Hasakah governorate, to the towns of Jadeed Akidat, al-Busira, al-Shuhail, al-Izba as well as al-Mammal area and al-Omar oil fields, in which the illegal American base is located, in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor,” the source said.
The SDF’s military buildup came amid an increase in U.S. flights over the eastern Euphrates bank and after the coalition deployed a surveillance blimp over its base in the Conoco gas facility, which is also located in the eastern Deir Ezzor countryside.
Earlier this month, the coalition deployed additional reinforcements in its bases in al-Omar and Conoco and held a series of military exercises with its proxies there.
According to Sputnik, a number of SDF fighters talked about a U.S. plan to launch an attack against seven key towns on the eastern Euphrates bank, Hatla, Al-Jeneina, Murat, Mazloum, al-Hussainia, Al-Tabia, and Khasham, which are held by the SAA and its allies.
However, local sources denied these claims and told the news agency that the SDF deployed a large force from al-Hasakah to the eastern Deir Ezzor countryside because it wants to replace local Arab fighters after an increase in ISIS attacks there.
While an attack by the U.S.-led coalition and its proxies seems unlikely, the SAA and its allies are taking precautions. Large reinforcements were reportedly deployed over the last few days along the western Euphrates bank as well as in the seven government-held towns on the eastern bank.
It’s worth noting that tensions between U.S. and Russian forces in Syria have been mounting for a while now, with both sides accusing the other of violating flight safety protocols over the war-torn country.
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