Secretary-General of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), Abdelbaset Abdullatif, highlighted the gravity of the situation east of the Euphrates River, especially in Deir Ezzor due to the terrorist practices being practiced by the PYD militia, the latest of which was the assassination of Arab tribal leaders in the region.
Abdullatif emphasized that the PYD militia represents a totalitarian, alien authority over the region which explains many of their criminal practices of displacement, demographic change, and forced recruitment of children.
Abdullatif offered his condolences to the Akidat tribe for the assassination of its sheikh, Mutasher Al-Hafl, warning of the exacerbation of the anger among the local tribes.
Rural Deir Ezzor has recently seen several demonstrations denouncing the actions of the PYD militia and protesting against the deteriorating situation in the region. Demonstrators demanded that killers of sheikh Al-Hafl be identified and brought to justice.
Local news networks said that angry demonstrations took place in the towns of Al-Shaheil, Thiban, Al-Hawaij in eastern rural Deir Ezzor in protest against the practices of the PYD militia.
The United States on Monday condemned of the attack that targeted sheikh of Al-Akidat tribe. A statement published by the US Embassy in Damascus on Twitter and Facebook said: “We offer our sincerest condolences to the Agaidat tribe and the family of Sheikh Mutsher, who was killed in the attack, as well as to the family of his driver who was also killed. We hope that Sheikh Ibrahim makes a speedy recovery and that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”
The statement said that “violence against civilians is unacceptable and impedes the hope for a lasting political resolution to the conflict in Syria in line with UN Security Council resolution 2254.”
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
