Between 7-12 August, Difa al-Watani [National Defense Forces] and other armed groups affiliated to the Damascus Government attacked the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor Canton. As a result of the attacks, 15 civilians were martyred and 24 were wounded.

Interviewed by ANHA, representatives of Arab tribes in Deir ez-Zor Canton spoke out against the attacks on the region.

Îbrahîm Hiwêş El Sultan, a tribal leader from Geranîc town, condemned the attacks and said, “They targeted our region and our children. Many innocent people, including children, were martyred.”

Expressing his support for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against the attacks and threats against the region, Îbrahîm Hiwêş El Sultan said, “We are wholeheartedly with SDF against the attacks and threats against our region.” He called on international and human rights organisations to stand against the massacres against civilians and to hold the criminals to account.

Nasir Osman al-Sabat, a tribal leader in the town of Abu Hemam, one of the targets of these aggressor groups, said: “What sin did the Syrians commit that their blood was spilled, and their houses were destroyed by Difa al-Watani and the militias of the regime forces? Hospitals are full of injured women and children, and more than 30 houses were destroyed as a result of the attacks.”

Nasir Osman Al-Sabat emphasised their readiness to stand against the attacks on the region and said, “As the tribal elders in the region, we reject this aggression. We do not accept anything that targets the security and stability of our region. The attacks by the regime and its partners were within this framework. We want to make security and peace possible with the SDF. As the tribes of Dêrazor, we are not in favour of war, but we are ready to respond to any threat to the security and stability of the region, whether by Turkey or the Baath regime and its militias.”

Remarking that the aim of the attacks is to disrupt the peace and security of the region, Nûri Terak El Nûman from the Shiêtat tribe said, “We reject whoever does evil in the region and slaughters women and children. We condemn the attacks of the regime and Difa al-Watani. We stand by the SDF. We are all Syrians, and we condemn those who attacked the region. We want them to be held to account.”

Sabit Hemad al-Īd from the Shiêtat tribe appealed to the Syrian people, saying: “We call on all Syrians from Quneitra to Kobanê not to be deceived by foreign powers. We know that they are malicious and agents of foreign powers. We are a people in favour of peace and tranquility. We are against war. The aim of outsiders is not to ensure peace in the region, but to destroy Syria. We are in favour of internal dialogue. Our aim is to build Syria and guarantee peace together with the SDF, which is made up of our children. We know well who has a hand in destabilising the security in the region. We are against them and we must hold them accountable.”