Deir ez-Zor clashes (2024)
| Deir ez-Zor clashes (2024) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Eastern Syria insurgency in the Syrian Civil War | ||||||
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| Belligerents | ||||||
 SyriaSupported by:  Russia Iran |
 Syrian Democratic ForcesSupported by:  CJTF–OIR United States |
 Islamic State | ||||
In the days leading up to and during the 2024 Northwestern Syria offensive, several military clashes involving ISIS cells, Syrian rebel forces, Syrian regime forces, and US-led international coalition forces involving the United Kingdom, France, Jordan, Turkey, Canada, Australia, and others, occurred in Deir ez-Zor Governorate. These events prompted significant military responses from both Russian forces and Syrian government troops.
Timeline of clashes
[edit]On November 17, 2024, ISIS cells killed a member of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and injured others at a security checkpoint.[1]
On November 19, a United States Air Force strike on Iranian-aligned militia compounds in Al-Qoriya Desert, Deir ez-Zor Governorate, killed five militia troops. Additional operations targeted militia positions in Al-Qoriya, Al-Mayadeen, and Al-Ashara, following an Iranian missile impact near their Al-Shaddadi base in Al-Hasakah Governorate. Earlier in November, the US-led international coalition conducted four live-ammunition exercises at the Al-Omar Oil Field base, their largest Syrian installation, and another at the Al-Tanf base near the Syria-Iraq-Jordan border area.[2][3]
On November 23, a Syrian Arab Army lieutenant and soldier were killed in an ambush by ISIS cells in Al-Bushri desert. Later, two Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps troops were killed in an ISIS ambush in the Al-Ma’ezalyah area of the Abu Kamal desert, while two more were injured.[4]
On November 24, ISIS operatives attacked and killed two SDF troops and severely injured one after detonating a road land mine in Ghariba Al-Sharqiya Village within the Al-Sawr district of northern Deir ez-Zor.[5]
On November 25, ISIS operatives conducted two separate attacks in western Deir ez-Zor Governorate. The first incident involved ISIS members on motorcycles engaging in an armed confrontation with Al-Asayish Internal Security Forces along Al-Khorafy Road near Abu Khashab. While the encounter involved machine gun fire, no casualties were reported. In a separate incident on the same day, ISIS militants conducted a fatal attack near Al-Makman, resulting in the death of an oil tank driver.[6]
In response, Russian air forces executed multiple precision strikes against ISIS desert positions on 27 November 2024. These operations targeted specific locations including Al-Boshra Mountain in western Deir ez-Zor and positions within Al-Rasafa in the Al-Raqqa countryside.[7] On the same day, gunmen of ISIS cells fired upon a SDF checkpoint located in Al-Hawayej Town with machine guns.[8]
On 28 November, ISIS operatives riding a motorcycle fired automatic weapons at the first brigade of the Self-Defense Forces in Al-Jurthi town, located in eastern Deir ez-Zor province, resulting in return fire with no known casualties.[9] A US-led international coalition military exercise involving fighter jets took place at the United States military base at the Koniko gas field in northern Deir ez-Zor. These exercises generated notable acoustic signatures in the surrounding area due to the intensity of the operations.[10]
On 29 November, unidentified aircraft conducted precision strikes against positions associated with Iranian-aligned forces in the Ma'izila Desert region of Abu Kamal, situated along the Iraq-Syria border.[11]
Iranian-aligned militias significantly expanded their military presence and security operations in Abu Kamal amid heightened regional tensions and following U.S. military actions against militia positions in the region. The militias established new checkpoint systems at the city's entry and exit points, with increased patrol activities in secondary streets.[12]
Notable reinforcements arrived from several affiliated groups, including Hezbollah Iraq, the Popular Mobilization Forces, and the Fatemiyoun militia, concentrating their presence in the Al-Thalathaat region near the Iraq-Syria border. The deployed forces conducted nocturnal training exercises, including live-fire drills directed toward desert areas in preparation for potential military actions from forces stationed at the Al-Tanf base hosting international coalition forces. The reinforcements followed a 27 November U.S. Central Command precision strike against a militia weapons storage facility in Syria.[12]
Russian withdrawal and SDF–Syrian Army clashes
[edit]On 30 November, Russian forces executed a coordinated withdrawal of military equipment and personnel from multiple headquarters across the Seven Villages area, relocating these assets to Deir ez-Zor city. The withdrawal encompassed positions in Al-Husseiniyah, Al-Salihiyah, Hatla, Marrat, Mazloum, Khasham, and Tabiyet Jazira, all situated on the eastern bank of the Euphrates.[13] The withdrawal prompted strategic responses from multiple actors, including the SDF, which consolidated its forces in the industrial zones adjacent to the affected area. US-led international coalition forces, operating from Koniko Gas Field, conducted artillery operations targeting positions in Marrat and Khasham towns within the Seven Villages region.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "New attack | Member of SDF kil*led and others injured by IS*IS cells at a military checkpoint in Deir Ezzor - The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". 2024-11-17. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ "Deir Ezzor | "International Coalition" forces conduct exercises with live ammunition in Al-Omar Field - The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". 2024-11-19. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ "Primary dea*th toll | Five members of Iranian militias kil*led under US airstrikes on Deir Ezzor - The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". 2024-11-19. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ "Having been ambushed by ISIS | Four members of IRGC killed and injured in eastern Deir Ezzor countryside - The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". 2024-11-23. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ "New attack | Three members of "SDF" kil*led and injured in explosion of I*E*D planted by IS*IS cells in Deir Ezzor - The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". 2024-11-24. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ "Significant escalation | IS*IS cells carry out two consecutive attacks in Deir Ezzor and kil*l driver of oil tank - The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". 2024-11-25. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ "New attacks | Russian fighter jets target positions of IS*IS cells in Al-Raqqa and Deir Ezzor Deserts - The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". 2024-11-27. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ "New attack | IS*IS cells attack military checkpoint of "SDF" eastern of Deir Ezzor - The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". 2024-11-27. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ "Followed by clashes | ISIS cells attack military vehicle of Self-defence members in Deir Ezzor countryside - The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". 2024-11-28. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ "New round | International Coalition Forces conduct military drills in northern Deir Ezzor - The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". 2024-11-28. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ "Deir Ezzor | Anonymous planes target positions of Iranian militias in Al-Bokamal Desert at borders between Syria and Iraq - The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". 2024-11-29. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ a b "استنفار لميليشيات إيران في البوكمال بريف دير الزور". baladi-news.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ "After entering to curb Iranian-backed militias expansion | Russian forces withdraw from the "seven villages" area in Deir Ezzor countryside - The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". 2024-11-30. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ "Military escalation | "International Coalition" Forces shell the "seven villages" in Deir Ezzor - The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". 2024-11-30. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
