Deir ez-Zor (Dêrezor), a region in northeastern Syria rich in natural resources, has become a focal point for escalating attacks by various regional powers. Speaking to Mezopotamya Agency’s Emrullah Acar on Monday, journalist Cihan Bilgin emphasised that the area’s strategic significance, both geographically and economically, has drawn the attention of forces including the Syrian government, Iranian-backed militias, Turkey and Russia.
“Hegemon powers have long sought to extend their influence from Deir ez-Zor to North and East Syria through various underhanded strategies,” Bilgin said, highlighting the region’s importance.
The city, located along the Syria-Iraq border and the banks of the Euphrates River, has been under attack by Syrian government forces and the National Defence Forces (Difa al Watani) militia, with recent bombings resulting in the deaths of 13 civilians, including six children. Bilgin explained that these attacks are part of a larger effort by hegemonic powers to destabilise the Kurdish-led Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and extend their influence across the region. “The aim is to create the illusion of internal conflict among the local populations,” she noted.
Bilgin underscored that Deir ez-Zor’s wealth of energy resources further intensifies its value to regional actors, leading to frequent clashes as these powers vie for control. She highlighted the involvement of Iran, which has consistently targeted AANES-controlled areas, and Turkey, which allegedly supported the planning of recent assaults in coordination with Syrian government-affiliated groups. “Iranian and Syrian forces, along with Turkish-backed paramilitaries, are keen to sow discord in the area,” Bilgin stated.
In addition to Turkish involvement, Bilgin noted Russia’s occasional support for Turkey’s initiatives, suggesting that Moscow’s interests in the region align with destabilising the area to further its geopolitical aims. This complex web of regional alliances and enmities has made Deir ez-Zor a key battleground in the broader conflict. “Russia sometimes backs Turkey’s moves, not to solve the problems, but to push its own agenda,” she remarked.
Despite the ongoing violence, Bilgin reported that local tribes in Deir ez-Zor have expressed their support for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), standing against efforts to incite conflict among the region’s communities. This support is critical as it counters the Syrian government’s narrative that the SDF is failing to maintain order. “The tribes’ alignment with the SDF invalidates the regime’s claims of disorder under the Autonomous Administration,” Bilgin observed.
Bilgin concluded with a call for international attention to the atrocities occurring in Deir ez-Zor, particularly the targeting of civilians, and praised the resilience of the local population in their determination to protect their hard-won gains against external aggression. “The world must not remain silent as children and innocent civilians are being targeted. The people of Deir ez-Zor are united in their resolve, and their strength lies in their unity,” she asserted.
