Clashes between Arab tribes, SDF forces in Syria pose challenge to US

Beatrice Farhat

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Several Syrian pro-government and pro-Iranian groups launched a major attack against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which are backed by Washington, in Syria’s eastern province of Deir ez-Zor, leading to violent clashes on Wednesday in some of the heaviest fighting in more than a year in the area, where US troops are deployed as part the international coalition fighting the Islamic State (ISIS).

The warring sides exchanged heavy artillery and mortar shelling, while US helicopters struck positions belonging to Arab tribal forces, leading to several casualties, according to local reports.

What happened

The clashes began on Tuesday night and continued throughout Wednesday after Syrian government forces and allied militias launched a ground attack against the SDF in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River.