BEIRUT: The US embassy in Syria has announced that senior officials engaged in talks with Kurdish-led forces and community leaders in eastern Syria, emphasizing the urgent need for de-escalation following days of deadly violence.
The conflict erupted within the Kurdish-controlled areas of Deir Ezzor province following the detention of Ahmad al-Khabil, the head of the local Deir Ezzor Military Council, by the US-backed, Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) last Sunday.
The ongoing violence has resulted in the loss of 49 fighters from both sides and eight civilians, as reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor. In response to the unrest, a curfew was imposed in the affected area on Saturday.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Ethan Goldrich, and Major General Joel Vowell, commander of the US-led coalition, convened in northeast Syria with representatives from the SDF, Kurdish authorities, and tribal leaders hailing from Deir Ezzor, according to the American embassy.
Security Situation in Syria
The embassy’s statement affirmed that the discussions centered on “the importance of addressing the grievances” of Deir Ezzor residents, the perils associated with external interference, and the imperative to prevent civilian fatalities and casualties.
Furthermore, the participants expressed a consensus on “the necessity for de-escalation of violence as soon as possible.” These deliberations occurred under the purview of the US embassy, which operates from outside Syria.
Deir Ezzor province is under the control of the SDF on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River, while forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad maintain a presence on the western bank. The US-led coalition maintains military bases in the region, including at Syria’s largest gas field, Al-Omar.
As of Sunday, one day after the imposition of the curfew, both the SDF and the Syrian Observatory indicated that the situation appeared to be gradually stabilizing. SDF spokesman Farhad Shami remarked that the tensions had been confined to five out of 120 villages in the area, with one remaining village showing signs of resolution.
Shami underscored the importance of handling the situation with great sensitivity, expressing hope for a swift resolution, whether through military means or communication with local tribes in the region. Syria’s protracted conflict, which commenced in 2011, has resulted in the loss of over half a million lives.
