South Front
Click to see full-size image. Source: sdf-press.com
On May 20, an armored vehicle of the United States-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) was hit with a roadside bomb near the town of Abu Khashab in the northern countryside of Deir Ezzor.
In an initial statement, the SDF said that three of its personnel, including a senior commander, were wounded in the attack, adding that the attack was likely orchestrated by ISIS cells.
Later however, Sputnik reported, citing local sources in Deir Ezzor, that four personnel of the Kurdish-led group, three fighters and a commander, were killed as a result of the roadside bomb attack. The Russian news agency identified the slain commander by his nom de guerre only, Kribuz.
Kribuz, who reportedly commands SDF units in Deir Ezzor and neighboring Raqqa, was apparently the main target of the attack. The commander is infamous for launching arrest campaigns in Arab areas in both governorates and is said to be responsible for unlawful executions.
Following the deadly attack, the SDF dispatched a large force to Abu Khashab and U.S. warplanes were spotted flying over the town and its surroundings.
This was the second such attack to target the SDF in Deir Ezzor this month. On May 11, four fighters of the group were killed when their armored vehicle was blown up with an explosive device near the town of al-Baghuz in the southeastern countryside of the governorate.
The SDF stepped up counter-terrorism operation in cooperation with the U.S.-led coalition in the recent months. However, ISIS influence in the areas controlled by the group in northern and eastern Syria is still growing. This is mainly the result of discriminatory policies against the Arab population.
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