Syrian government forces and pro-government National Defence (Difa al-Watani) militias have subjected 12 towns and villages in the the countryside in eastern Deir ez-Zor (Dêrezor) Governorate to bombardment over the course of three days, starting on the night of 6 August. The sustained attacks resulted in the deaths of 13 civilians, a number of whom were children, and caused extensive damage to infrastructure, as reported by ANHA on Saturday.
The indiscriminate shelling targeted a number of towns, including Dhiban (Dîban), al-Shahil (el-Şehîl) and al-Tayana (Tayyanah), killing two civilians and injuring seven others, including two children. Simultaneously, Damascus government forces and National Defence militias, under the direction of General Intelligence Service head Hussam Louka, attempted to infiltrate areas controlled by the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), by boat up the Euphrates from government-held territories. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Deir ez-Zor Military Council repelled these efforts, resulting in clashes that killed eight on the government side and injured 16 others.
The violence escalated further on 9 August, when government forces shelled the villages of al-Dahalah (El Dehla) and Jadeed Bakara (Cedîde Begara), causing two massacres that claimed the lives of 11 civilians. During the burial of the victims, government forces bombed a cemetery in al-Dahalah, forcing mourners to bury their bodies in haste amid ongoing shelling.
The Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration issued a statement on Saturday condemning the Syrian government’s actions, accusing it of attempting to destabilise the region in coordination with Turkey. “The regime is trying to create chaos and undermine stability in areas that have been peaceful, by supporting mercenary groups and orchestrating attacks in Deir ez-Zor,” the statement read. The AANES further urged the international community and investigative bodies to intervene, pointing out that the Syrian government’s focus on these attacks comes as it ignores violations of sovereignty in Damascus (referring to Israeli bombings) and other regions (referring to Turkish incursions).
Throughout the three-day period, the Syrian government and affiliated militias destroyed vital infrastructure including two vital water stations, the al-Omar and Abu Hamam stations, which provided water for thousands of families. The attacks have prompted widespread condemnation from local tribes and political groups in Deir ez-Zor.
