Justice for Life researchers documented security, economic, and service developments in the SDF-controlled part of Deir Ezzor governorate. Many prominent events were documented in June, including several raids and arrests, besides the spread of weapons chaos and clan conflicts, which left wounded and dead, in addition to injuries resulting from war remnants and robberies. Also, the researchers monitored issuing many decisions by the Autonomous Administration concerning the residents of the region.
Arrests and Armed Clashes in Different Parts of Deir Ezzor
Three people were killed in Abu Hamam town, east of Deir Ezzor: a civilian and two SDF members. Furthermore, on June 3rd, an SDF military patrol raided a river crossing in the town used to smuggle fuel into Syrian government control areas in Deir Ezzor. The operation led to the killing of one person, which led to clashes between many residents and the SDF forces. Those clashes left two deaths among the SDF members. Consequently, the SDF carried out large-scale raids.
In this context, on June 4th, the town of Al Tayyana in the eastern countryside witnessed tension between several residents and SDF members, which led to arresting of two young men at least. A special force, backed by the International Coalition, arrested a person in Al-Shuhail town in the eastern countryside on June 8th. The arrest reasons remained unknown.
On June 8th, 2022, an SDF member was killed in Darnach village in the eastern countryside. No one claimed responsibility for the incident. A staff member of an institution of the Autonomous Administration was shot dead in direct gunfire in the northern countryside of Deir Ezzor on June 11th. ISIS claimed responsibility[1] for the incident on its official Media. In this context, an SDF leader was subjected to an assassination attempt by unknown individuals on a motorbike on June 15th in Al-Shuhail town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. The leader was not harmed, according to JFL researcher.
On June 14th, an SDF military patrol raided a river crossing in Mhaimida village, west of Deir Ezzor. The patrol seized fuel that was ready to smuggle into the government areas.
The SDF announced[2] arresting an ISIS member in Al-Busaira town on June 25th but did not give further details about the operation or the detainee. Two days after the operation on June 27th, special forces affiliated with the SDF, backed by the International Coalition, carried out a raid operation in Al-Jerthi town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, arresting three people, according to JFL researcher in the region. The SDF and the International Coalition arrested two people in Al-Shuhail town on June 28th.
ISIS claimed responsibility[3] for targeting an SDF military post in Dhiban town on June 28th. No casualties were reported among the military post members of the assailants.
Casualties in an Explosion of War Remnants and a Shooting
On June 1st, JFL researcher documented at least four children injured when a war remnant projectile detonated in Al-Shuhail town. Also, in the eastern countryside, specifically in Al-Sha’afah town, a child was injured by a war remnant projectile explosion.
A JFL female researcher in Al-Busaira town documented a child abduction. The researcher said that two people on a motorbike carried out the operation. Several witnesses confirmed that the purpose of the kidnap was the financial blackmail of the child’s parents. The JFL researcher reported that the child returned to his family without any details about his release.
Two people were injured due to an armed clash between two families in Al-Shuhail town. One person died in the town after being shot during a brawl that turned into an exchange of gunfire. A woman died in Gharanij town after being shot at a wedding in the town.
One person was killed in Dhiban town, and another was injured in Hawayej Al-Boumsa’a village because of a family dispute where weapons were used.
A JFL female researcher said that a man killed three people in Al-Hisan town. The researcher did not document all the details of the incident yet.
A child in Al-Shuhail town was shot by unidentified gunfire, and the child was hospitalized. Another person was shot in Al-Kishkiyah town by unidentified gunfire.
A JFL female researcher in the western countryside said that residents found the body of a displaced woman in Al-Kasra town. Furthermore, the researcher reported that a medical source in the town confirmed that the corpse’s head was smashed.
Release of Detainees and Services Decisions
The Fuel Committee of the Deir Ezzor Civil Council of the Autonomous Administration issued several instructions to local councils concerning the registration process for the heating fuel allocations for the 2022/2023 term. Among those instructions was the issuing of a card to facilitate the procedures to obtain heating fuel for those who do not have a family book.
The Autonomous Administration imposed fines and prison sentences on anyone transporting wheat into the Syrian government control areas. That decision comes at a time of increasing the smuggling of oil and wheat from the Autonomous Administration areas into government areas.
Maintenance and restorations of the main water plant in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor completed. The Public Water Establishment of the Public Services Committee of the Deir Ezzor Civil Council has announced that the plant will begin pumping water to villages and towns. Besides, the restoration of a water plant in Al-Shaafah area, east of Deir Ezzor, has also started.
The Deir Ezzor Civil Council approved the decision of the Eastern Region Council to dismiss several officials in institutions of the Eastern Region Council. The JFL researcher said that the approval came after the Civil Council considered that the Eastern Region Council’s decision came on evidence incriminating the dismissed officials.
The JFL researcher in the eastern countryside reported that the SDF released a person from Dhiban town after being detained for almost a month. The SDF released a person after six months of detention. The JFL researcher said that the released is a resident of the Khsham town, which is currently under the control of Syrian government forces. After about a year of detention, the SDF released another person from Hawayej town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.
JFL documented the release of a displaced young man in the SDF controlled areas after more than a year of detention. The SDF released another person from Al-Busaira town after more than a year and a half of detention.
The JFL female researcher in Al-Busaira town documented releasing a young man from the town, on June 22nd, 2022, after a year and a half of detention in the SDF prisons.
[1] ISIS shared a statement on its official media claiming the operation on June 12th, 2022.
[2] Hajin military council, an SDF affiliated, announced the operation Al-Busaira on June 25th, 2022.
[3] ISIS shared a statement on its official media claiming the operation on June 28th, 2022
