ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Saturday said they responded after their positions in eastern Deir ez-Zor came under attack by Damascus-affiliated groups.
“Groups affiliated with Damascus government factions targeted a number of our forces' headquarters in the town of Abu Hamam in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor,” the SDF said, adding that they “began a legitimate response to the sources of fire according to the rules of engagement.”
The SDF and Damascus have repeatedly accused the other of targeting their positions. The Kurdish-led SDF said the government-allied armed groups are putting civilian populations at risk.
“These groups continue to shell military headquarters and civilian homes with rockets and heavy weapons randomly and directly, targeting three military points in the area… [and are] using drones and suicide drones in their attacks, which poses a doubled danger to the lives of peaceful residents,” it said.
The SDF is the de facto military force of northeast Syria (Rojava) and the main on-the-ground ally of the US-led coalition.
Syria’s defense ministry said on Thursday that two of its soldiers were killed and several others injured in what it attributed to an SDF attack. Hours earlier, the SDF said its units struck several sites in Raqqa linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) and used to launch drones. It accused factions aligned with Damascus of facilitating the attacks.
The flare-up comes while the two sides are in talks about implementing an agreement to integrate the SDF into the national army. They disagree on fundamental points, however, such as the SDF wanting to integrate as a unified bloc, while Damascus insists on absorbing fighters individually into regular army units.
Sinam Mohamad, Washington representative of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) that is the political wing of the SDF, told Rudaw on Friday that there is an understanding that small units of the Kurdish-led security forces will remain in place.
Earlier this month, Syria joined the US-led coalition against ISIS, becoming its 90th member.
Speaking in Duhok on Wednesday, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi welcomed Syria’s accession to the group and said he hoped it would accelerate the integration process. He also urged regional countries, including Turkey, not to view the effort to incorporate his forces into state institutions as a threat.