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On November 19, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) captured the strategic town of Shu’aytat on the eastern back of the Euphrates River in the southeastern Deir Ezzor countryside, according to pro-Kurdish sources.
Pro-government sources claim that the SDF entered Shu’aytat after a deal with local ISIS commander, known as Abu Talhat al-Mohajer. The SDF didn’t report any clashes around Shaitat earlier. Thus, these claims could be real.
Meanwhile, Syrian opposition sources published a video showing fighters of the SDF’s Deir Ezzor Military Council (DMC) beating captured ISIS supporters or fighters and disfiguring some corpses inside Shu’aytat town. The SDF has repeatedly claimed that it is the only force that respect human rights in Syria.
#Syria Euphrates Post : Video for SDF militants disfiguring some corpses and arresting some accused of joining ISIS in Shanan town in eastern Deir EzZor CS – #SDF pic.twitter.com/EkPNluSWWu
— Ivan Sidorenko (@IvanSidorenko1) November 19, 2017
Shu’aytat witnessed a bloody massacre committed by ISIS against members of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and civilians of the Shu’aytat tribe in August 2014. At least, 700 people were killed by ISIS during the massacre, according to opposition sources.
While the SDF is rapidly advancing along the eastern bank of the Euphrates, the US-back force faces a notable resistance from ISIS south and southeast of the Omar and al-Tanak oil fields near the Syrian-Iraqi border.
