The Damascus government forces and the Difa al-Watanî [National Defense Forces] gangs affiliated to them bombarded the areas of Zîban, Shihîl, Tiyane, Dernic, Abu Herdûb, Abu Hemam, Al Latwa and Xiranîc in the eastern region of Deir ez-Zor from their fronts in Meyadîn, Bû Kemal and Eşare regions at around 02.00 last night.

According to local sources, the mentioned forces wanted to penetrate the area by boat from the towns of Beqris Jorin, Beqris Jerin, Qûriye and Sibêxan on the eastern side of Deir ez-Zor on the orders of Husam Loqa, the head of the "General Intelligence" of Damascus.

According to the SDF Press Liaison Centre statement, 2 civilians were martyred and 7 civilians, including 2 children, were wounded in the attacks on residential areas in Deir ez-Zor.

Military sources reported that one of the martyred civilians was Îmad Jalal al-Hetab from al-Latwa neighbourhood of Zîban and the other was a young man named Yusif from Xranîj town.

Among those wounded, 17-year-old Emmar Al Yasir and 9-year-old Ehmed Xelîl Al Mihemed were taken to Hajîn Hospital. Their condition is reported to be serious.

It is reported that fierce clashes erupted between the aggressor groups and the local military councils of Deir ez-Zor and Hajîn near the affected villages and towns, including Besîra, Zîban, Şihêl, Tiyane, Dernic, Abu Herdûb, Abu Hemam, Al Latwa and Xiranîc.

The regional command said that the SDF repelled the attack after four hours of clashes.

According to reports, 8 attackers were killed in the fighting, and 16 others were wounded, while the other attackers fled.

While Deir ez-Zor Military Council forces took security measures in Abu Hemam town where clashes took place, a curfew was declared in all other towns and the number of checkpoints was increased.

The locals who had to leave their homes due to the bombardments of the gangs moved to the countryside of Ezbe and Sor towns north of Deir ez-Zor.