File image.
On November 1, dozens of Arab locals intercepted a patrol of the U.S.-led coalition that attempted to enter the town of Jadeed Bakkarah in the eastern countryside of Syria’s Deir Ezzor.
The locals blocked the roads in Jadeed Bakkarah with burning tires and chanted against the U.S.-led coalition and its proxy, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who controls the town. Some of the coalition’s vehicles were also attacked with stones.
Chanting in the face of coalition troops, some angry locals condemned U.S. occupation as well as the corruption and mismanagement of the SDF which led to poor living conditions in their areas. The locals warned of more escalation if the situation does not improve soon.
The Kurdish-led SDF keeps a tight grip on several Arab areas in Deir Ezzor and other parts of northeastern Syria with direct support from the coalition.
Arabs in the eastern and southeastern countryside of Deir Ezzor have been organizing protests against the SDF for several months now. Most of their demands are related to living conditions, public services and security. Instead of fulfilling these demands, the SDF has been working with the coalition to further expand its presence in these areas.
The U.S.-led coalition maintains two large bases in Deir Ezzor; the Conoco gas plant base in the eastern countryside and the Green Village base in the southeastern countrywide.
The SDF’s poor management of Arab areas continue to fuel ethnic tensions in several parts of northeastern Syria. ISIS has been taking advantage of this to spread its radical ideology.
The situation in northeastern Syria will likely spill out of control in the near future. The U.S.-led coalition unquestionable support for the SDF could lead to a popular armed uprising in the region. An uprising that would not only target Kurdish forces, but also U.S. troops.
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