US Tells Kurdish Forces To De-escalate Fighting with Arabs

Kurdish led forces end “military operations” in the East

US-backed (PKK) Kurdish-led forces in Syria declared the “end of military operations” in the country’s east Wednesday after days of clashes with Arab fighters left dozens dead.

Military operations in Dhiban have ended,” SDF spokesman Farhad Shami told AFP.

The violence started when the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) detained Arab chief Ahmad al-Khabil, who headed the affiliated Deir Ezzor Military Council, on August 27.“

The clashes had rocked Kurdish-controlled areas of Deir Ezzor province, killing 90 people, mostly fighters but also nine civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The SDF has denied any dispute with Arab tribes in the region, saying the clashes have mostly involved “elements of the regime and some beneficiaries” of Khabil, whom they accuse of drug trafficking, mismanagement and communicating with Damascus.

So, if there is no dispute why did the SDF/PKK detain the Arab chief– Read below- this is a long standing issue!

Kurdish authorities control areas in north and northeast Syria through local civilian and military councils in an effort to stave off Arab discontent.

US Officials met with their proxies and told them to de escalate- And the proxies followed their orders

The US embassy to Syria, which is based outside the country, had said on Sunday that senior US officials had met with Kurdish-led forces and community leaders in eastern Syria to discuss the need for de-escalation.