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On April 29, Kino Gabrie spokesman for the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced that SDF fighters repelled the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) attack on their positions on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River in the province of Deir Ezzor recapturing the villages of Junaynah, Jiyah, Shaqrah and Hoyqat Ma’esha.
Kurdish sources reported that SDF fighters and the US-led coalition had killed 12 soldiers of the (SAA) and had captured a 12.7mm gun.
#د24:
فيديو يُظهر تمكن عناصر قوات #قسد من السيطرة على مضاد طيران من عيار 12,5 وذخائر من قوات الأسد بعد إستعادة السيطرة على قرية الجيعة في ريف #ديرالزور الغربي. pic.twitter.com/M6d9ZqGLzZ— ديرالزور24 (@DeirEzzor24) April 29, 2018
Few hours earlier, the SAA backed by tribal fighters managed to enter the four villages in a rapid attack. Syrian opposition sources reported that the SAA had killed more than 8 fighters and commanders of the SDF, including “Ahmad al-Jifil”, a senior Arab commander in the SDF.
According to Syrian pro-government activists, the attack was planned by Arab pro-government fighters who had wanted to recapture their villages from the Kurdish-dominated SDF. This could explain the limited response from the US-led coalition.
Deir Ezzor governorate is now witnessing high tensions between the SAA and the SDF. However, local observers doubt that the situation will escalate as both the US and Russia are working to avoid this scenario.
