Eleven days since Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) offensive on Aleppo (Heleb) in northern Syria, which has provoked significant shifts in the region’s political and security landscape, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), following the retreat of Syrian government forces, have reasserted control over Deir ez-Zor city and the strategically crucial area of Al-Bukamal.
The Al-Bukamal crossing came under SDF control on Friday 6 December, according to Reuters, citing two Syrian army sources. The city and the border crossing in Deir ez-Zor had long been pivotal channels through which the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) transported weapons to Lebanon via Syria.
Hawar News Agency revealed footage on abandoned positions once held by Iranian and Iraqi-backed militias in Al-Bukamal and Al-Mayadin, indicating a thorough evacuation of these areas.
The Deir ez-Zor Military Council publicly announced its entry into Deir ez-Zor city and the areas west of the Euphrates River on Friday. The council issued a statement, asserting:
“The recent developments in our homeland, Syria, pose a significant threat to the safety of our people and the stability of our region in Deir ez-Zor.”
The council specifically highlighted the resurgence of Turkish-backed factions and ISIS operatives in the Deir ez-Zor desert as a major concern, stating:
“Based on these threats, and to ensure the protection of our people, our fighters from the Deir ez-Zor Military Council have deployed in the city and west of the Euphrates.”
The council emphasised that the deployment aimed to mitigate potential threats to the region and its population, stressing that the move was necessary to maintain security and protect their forces and the local population from surrounding dangers.
Parallel to these developments, Channel 8 reported that the SDF “have taken control of the Deir ez-Zor military airport following the withdrawal of the Syrian army.”
This decision aligns with the SDF’s broader strategy of countering the escalating threats from ISIS and Turkish-backed factions active in eastern Syria.
In light of recent developments in Syria, SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi stated during a press conference on Friday that coordination with the international coalition is ongoing to counter the resurgence of adversarial forces. He confirmed efforts to secure key areas, including Deir ez-Zor, Tabqa, and Raqqa (Reqa). While emphasising a preference for dialogue over conflict, Abdi made it clear that any act of aggression would be met with decisive resistance and reaffirmed the SDF’s readiness to respond as necessary.
