File image, source: sdf-press.com
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is backed by the United States, entered on December 6 government-held areas in the eastern Syrian governorate of Deir Ezzor under a deal with the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) as militants led by al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) continued to advance in the north and center of the country.
A large force was deployed along the road extending from the town of Maadan near nearby areas in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor, to the town of al-Sabkha in the eastern countryside of Raqqa.
Another force was dispatched by the SDF to the airport close to Deir Ezzor city, as the SAA and its allies pulled out many of their units to fronts in the northern and central regions.
The SDF aided the SAA in the first days of the HTS-led offensive, helping evacuate thousands of troops and civilians from the city of Aleppo which fell last week.
As a part of the offensive, which was launched by HTS and its allies on November 27, anti-governmental militants have so far captured more than 800 square kilometers, including all of Idlib governorate in addition to the cities of Aleppo and Hama.
Commenting on recent developments in Syria, SDF chief Mazloum Abdi said that his forces will take all necessary measures to prevent the problems from crossing from the western bank of the Euphrates River to the east .
“We did not fight Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, and what matters to us is that it does not become a target of the battles,” he said.
All in all, the SDF continues to take advantage of the HTS-led offensive to further expand its control in northern and eastern Syria.
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