Illustrative image
On Sunday, ISIS and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) begin negotiations to hand over the eastern bank of the Euphrates river to the SDF, according to a report of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
The SOHR added that the negotiations are sponsored by local tribal leaders from Deir Ezzor governorate. The area that might be handed over to the SDF is over 110km along the Euphrates river, according to the report.
The SOHR added that the area include all the villages between Khsham town in the eastern Deir Ezzor countryside, and Hajin town in the southeastern Deir Ezzor countryside.
Hajin town is located 20km north of the last ISIS stronghold in Syria, al-Bukamal city. If ISIS hands over the town to the SDF, the US-backed force will likely cross the Euphrates and effectively cut off the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) from al-Bukamal.
Earlier on Sunday, reports appeared that the SDF captured the Omar oil fields as a result of the agreement with local ISIS members. The Syrian pro-government blog al-Masdar News even said that the local ISIS fighters defected to the SDF.
The tension between the SAA and the SDF reached a new level after the recent SDF advance in Deir Ezzor governorate and the supposed SDF-ISIS negotiations. According to some pro-government activists an armed conflict between the SDF and the SAA looks closer than ever. On the other hands, the US military support is an important issue that prevents the SAA from hostile actions against the SDF.
