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Clashes between US-allied Arab and Kurdish fighters in east Syria kill 3 and raise tensions

BEIRUT: Clashes broke out Monday between two US-backed teams in japanese Syria, leaving three gunmen lifeless and elevating tensions within the area the place tons of of American troops are deployed, opposition activists mentioned.
The clashes increase issues of extra divisions between US-backed Kurdish and Arab fighters in japanese Syria that borders Iraq and the place the Islamic State group as soon as loved vast presence. US-backed fighters play a significant position in focusing on sleeper cells of the Islamic State group that also perform lethal assaults.
Monday’s clashes got here a day after the US-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces detained the commander a previously allied group and a number of other different members of his faction after they had been invited to a gathering within the northeastern metropolis of Hassakeh on Sunday.
The SDF didn’t verify the detention of Ahmad Khbeil, higher often called Abu Khawla. He heads the Deir el-Zour Army Council, which was allied with the SDF in its yearslong battle towards the Islamic State group in Syria. SDF officers didn’t instantly reply to questions by The Related Press concerning the arrest.
Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition warfare monitor, mentioned that the SDF was involved that Khbeil was opening hyperlinks with the Syrian authorities in addition to Turkey, whose troops have carried out a number of incursions focusing on Kurdish fighters in north Syria since 2016.
Khbeil’s arrest might enhance rigidity between Kurds and Arabs as a result of most of his supporters who had been additionally detained belong to a strong tribe in japanese Syria. In July, a conflict between the 2 sides left not less than one Arab fighter lifeless.
On Monday, a number of opposition activists reported clashes between the perimeters in villages in Deir el-Zour. The Observatory and Omar Abu Layla, a Europe-based activist who follows occasions within the area, mentioned three members of the Deir el-Zour Army Council had been killed. Different activists mentioned that offended Arab tribesmen minimize roads within the province in protest towards the SDF.
The Observatory additionally reported that members of the Kurdish police drive often called Asayesh stormed the places of work of Baz information community, an activist collective, and detained 5 citizen journalists together with the pinnacle of the community. The Observatory mentioned the community is funded by Khbeil.
Baz information community mentioned in a press release that Kurdish fighters detained its journalists, confiscated tools and took management of its places of work.
On any given day, there are not less than 900 US forces in japanese Syria, together with an undisclosed variety of contractors. They companion with the SDF to work on stopping a comeback by the Islamic State group.

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