Recent clashes in eastern Syria have escalated tensions in the region, with U.S.-backed Syrian fighters launching a rare attack on pro-government gunmen. The attack resulted in the deaths of 18 gunmen near the border with Iraq in Deir el-Zour province.
The Syrian government, supported by Russia and Iran, has been determined to reclaim eastern Syria from U.S. forces stationed in the area since 2015. The clashes follow last month’s killings of key Hezbollah and Hamas leaders, for which Israel was blamed, leading to threats of retaliation from Iran and Hezbollah.
The Arab-led Deir el-Zour Military Council, part of the Syrian Democratic Forces, carried out the attack in response to government forces shelling villages, resulting in civilian deaths. The clashes, the worst in a year, highlight the strategic importance of eastern Syria, with the SDF controlling oil fields on the east bank of the Euphrates river, while the west bank serves as a crucial land corridor for Iran to the Mediterranean.
The situation remains volatile, with both sides vying for control in a region vital to their interests.
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