Deadly Clashes in East Syria as Govt Forces Fight US-Backed Kurds

Army briefly seized villages, Kurds retake them hours later

Jason Ditz 

Posted onApril 29, 2018CategoriesNewsTagsSyria

After expelling ISIS forces from virtually all towns in eastern Syria, the Syrian government’s forces have had an uneasy coexistence with US-backed Kurds in Deir Ezzor Province. Fighting erupted on Sunday threatening that, however, as Syrian troops seized four villages near the provincial capital.

Syrian state media reported thefour villages fell quickly, and six members of the pro-US SDF were killed. Syrian officials provided no indication as to why they suddenly pushed into the villages, but they have controlled the Deir Ezzor capital city since taking it from ISIS, and may be looking to expand into the surrounding area.

That’s risky, however, as the SDF has been given a large amount of weaponry by the US over the course of the war. The Kurds wasted no time in counterattacking, either, with Syrian Observatory reports saying all the villages were retaken.

The US-backed Kurds were allies with the Syrian government recently, with the two fighting side-by-side against a Turkish invasion in Afrin District. The split may facilitate more Turkish pushes against Kurdish territory, and may also have the US attacking Syrian forces in the east. Already, US officials are complaining the Syrian offensive is threatening anti-ISIS offensives, even though there is no sign that the anti-ISIS push has been launched yet.

https://news.antiwar.com/2018/04/29/deadly-clashes-in-east-syria-as-govt-forces-fight-us-backed-kurds/