The Deir ez-Zor Military Council announced the launch of ‘Operation Cizire Storm’ on 9 September 2017 and according to the council its objective is to liberate all the remaining areas of the Cizire region and the eastern part of Deir ez-Zor, in other words the east of the Euphrates River.

IMPORTANCE OF THE OPERATION

This area, which the SDF and the Deir ez-Zor Military Council intends to liberate, is situated south-east of Cizire and became many a time the centre where attacks against the Cizire area were prepared. Its liberation will guarantee more particularly the safety of this entire region, let alone of all the bordering lines like Shedad city and the counties affiliated to it.

On the other side, as the SDF fighters are making huge advances in Raqqa city, which is now up to 70% under the SDF control, and are driving the ISIS gangs into a corner, many times backup and reinforcement rushed to the gangs' help from outside to break this siege and massive attacks were carried out on the emplacements of the SDF. Therefore liberating those regions in question will provide the ‘Great Battle’ to liberate Raqqa with a boost as well. Also the safety of the civilians living in those areas will be ensured.

A part of the areas that are included in this offensive consists of regions affiliated to the Deir ez-Zor province. This implicates that the SDF will proceed also in this territory, following the huge advances they have already made in several other provinces of Syria (if we take it from the old administration policy).

IMPORTANCE OF THE REGION

Only thinking of the name Euphrates, one concludes it inevitably with life, which grew throughout whole of history always where water flew. Exactly this abundance of water made this region an agricultural hub, what consequently contributed to the development of the local economy.

On the other side, should the SDF bring this area under its control, it will reach the border to Iraq and enhance the area under its authority.

PARTICIPATING FORCES

The Deir ez-Zor Military Council is heading this offensive. This council, which has been formed not long ago and already participated in many other operations, joined the Operation to Liberate Manbij as well as the Operation to Liberate Raqqa. It predominantly consists of Deir ez-Zor’s children, who were forced to flee their homes and soil due to the tyranny of the Baathist regime and the ISIS gangs. In those liberated areas they organised themselves and are now heading to their land to free it.

On the other hand also fighters of the People's Defense Units (YPG) and Women's Defense Units (YPJ) are participating in the operation under the umbrella of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

THE REGIME ALSO MAKES SOME ADVANCES

On Deir ez-Zor’s other front, the countryside south of Raqqa, the Baathist regime and its affiliates are advancing with Russian air support and have taken some eastern parts of the Euphrates. SDF commanders commented on those advances, that it was always a positive thing when areas were liberated from terror no matter by which force, however whatever force was to aim their emplacements with their guns will also have to reckon with a response. In other words, if the regime intends to go to war with the SDF, the SDF will respond in the context of the right to legitimate self-defence.

THE RESULT

With the Raqqa Offensive many observers said that the Syrian crisis was now about to end and that the horizon of a future Syria would finally clear up. A great deal of Syria's soil will fall without a doubt under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) following the completion of this operation and the achievement of its objective. And that means this force will be the leading actor in the process of rebuilding a new Syria.