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The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and its security forces, commonly known as Asayish, launched a large-scale security operation in southeastern Deir Ezzor on May 15.
The operation targeted the remaining ISIS cells in the Middle Euphrates River Valley, especially in the town of al-Shheell, which witnessed a wave of protests against US-backed forces in the last few weeks.
“20 ISIS terrorists and a large quantity of armament were captured and two tunnels were found in the security operation by our forces in village of al-Shheell in the Middle Euphrates River Valley,” Mustafa Bali, a spokesman for the SDF, announced on Twitter.
The Kurdish Hawar News Agency (ANHA) reported that four of the arrested terrorists were participating in al-Shheell protests. Light weapons and signs, with anti-SDF slogans, were found in the terrorists’ hideouts, according to the agency.
“These signs indicate that these mercenaries are were trying to politicize the demonstrations … which were aimed at improving services in the region,” ANHA claimed in its report.
Last week, the SDF and the US-led coalition killed six civilians during a failed security operation in Shheell. The crime provoked a new wave of protests in the town, which was met with a violent response from Asayish.
The recent developments in southeastern Deir Ezzor highlight the military and political failure of the SDF. The Kurdish-dominated group is still incapable of securing the area or bonding with the locals there.
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