The Syrian opposition forces have announced the full control of the eastern city of Deir Az Zor after clashes with Kurdish-led forces. The spokesman for the advancing forces, Commander Hassan Abdul Ghani, declared the city and its military airport as fully liberated. The fighters are continuing to advance in the surrounding countryside. This capture is part of a series of victories for the opposition forces, including the recent takeover of Damascus and the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) briefly held Deir Az Zor city after government forces withdrew but still control eastern sections of the governorate. The power struggle in Deir Az Zor, a critical battleground in the fight against ISIL, mirrors the recent capture of the northern city of Manbij from Kurdish-led forces by the rebels. The United States, backing the SDF, has mediated a ceasefire agreement between the SDF and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army in Manbij to protect civilians.
The capture of Deir Az Zor marks a significant advance for the opposition forces and raises questions about the future governance of the city and the fate of al-Assad’s regime. The successful coordination between various rebel factions and the support from the US in mediating ceasefire agreements demonstrates the complicated dynamics of the conflict in Syria.
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