On 29 April 2018, clashes took place between

Syrian government Government of the Syrian Arab Republic is the union government created by the constitution of Syria where by the president is the head of state and the prime minister is the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government. Syr ...

forces and the

Syrian Democratic Forces , war = the Syrian Civil War , image = Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svgborder , caption = Flag , active = 10 October 2015 – present , ideology = DemocracyDecentralizationSecularism ...

(SDF) in

Deir ez-Zor Governorate Deir ez-Zor Governorate ( ar, مُحافظة دير الزور / ALA-LC: ''Muḥāfaẓat Dayr az-Zawr'') is one of the fourteen governorates (provinces) of Syria. It is situated in eastern Syria, bordering Iraq. It has an area of 33,060 km2 ( ...

Background

Tensions between the

Syrian Army " (''Guardians of the Homeland'') , colors = * Service uniform: Khaki, Olive * Combat uniform: Green, Black, Khaki , anniversaries = August 1st , equipment = , equipment_label = , battles = 1948 Arab–Israeli War Six ...

and the

in the eastern bank of the

Euphrates The Euphrates () is the longest and one of the most historically important rivers of Western Asia. Tigris–Euphrates river system, Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia ( ''the land between the rivers'') ...

have always been high following the liberation of Deir ez-Zor city from ISIL and the SDF's capture of large parts of the area following its

offensive Offensive may refer to: * Offensive, the former name of the Dutch political party Socialist Alternative * Offensive (military), an attack * Offensive language ** Fighting words or insulting language, words that by their very utterance inflict inj ...

against ISIL with CJTF–OIR support. On 16 September 2017, either Syrian or Russian aircraft bombed SDF positions on the eastern bank. On 25 September, Russian and Syrian forces shelled SDF forces in the nearby

Conoco Conoco Inc. ( ) was an American oil and gas company that operated from 1875 until 2002, when it merged with Phillips Petroleum to form ConocoPhillips. Founded by Isaac Elder Blake in 1875 as the "Continental Oil and Transportation Company". Curr ...

gas field. Between 7 February and 8 February 2018, clashes between the SDF and pro-Syrian government forces near

Khasham Khasham ( ar, خِشَام, Khišām) is a Syrian town located in Deir ez-Zor District, Deir ez-Zor , population_urban = , population_density_urban_km2 = , population_density_urban_sq_mi = , population_blank1_title = Ethnicities ...

resulted in US airstrikes on pro-government forces which killed dozens of pro-government militiamen, allegedly including contractors of the Russian private military company Wagner Group. Additional armed incidents took place in the following weeks. Tensions between the two backers of the Syrian government and Syrian Democratic Forces, Russia and the United States respectively, had also risen before the clashes due to the alleged Douma chemical attack and the subsequent missile strikes against the Syrian government by the US, France and the United Kingdom. A few days before the clashes, there were claims that the SDF were going to restart anti-ISIL operations in co-ordination with the US-led coalition near the Iraq–Syria border in Deir ez-Zor Governorate. The previous offensive against ISIL in the region was postponed due to the Turkish offensive against SDF forces in Afrin.

Clashes

On 29 April, the

attacked and captured four SDF-held villages on the eastern side of the

river in

. According to the

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , image = Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Logo.jpg , image_size = 200px , caption = The logo of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , type = NGO , founded_date = , founder ...

(SOHR), nine pro-government and six SDF-affiliated fighters were killed in the clashes. SDF spokesperson Kino Gabriel claimed that the clashes were "supporting terrorism and an attempt to obstruct the war against terrorism". Several hours later, the SDF claimed they recaptured all of the villages they lost, although the SOHR reported three of the four villages had been recaptured by the SDF. Some local sources claimed that US-led coalition jets hit pro-government forces attacking the SDF,U.S.-backed forces say they regain villages seized by Syrian army
/ref>
/ref> although the Pentagon stated they only conducted warning airstrikes and did not hit the pro-government troops directly.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Deir ez-Zor, Governorate clashes Conflicts in 2018 Military operations of the Syrian civil war in 2018 Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the Syrian government Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the Syrian Democratic Forces Battles of the Syrian civil war

Background

Clashes

See also

References