Syrian government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) exchanged shelling in eastern Aleppo countryside on Saturday, September 20, with both sides accusing each other of sparking the clashes.
The SDF said a Syrian government drone targeted one of its military points in the town of Deir Hafer (eastern Aleppo countryside) in the afternoon, though it reported no human or material losses.
However, an Enab Baladi correspondent in Aleppo reported that the fighting began when SDF units shelled Syrian army positions in Deir Hafer with artillery, prompting retaliatory fire from the army, which used artillery and rocket launchers. The correspondent confirmed that no drones had been used in the exchange.
The SDF said in its statement that its forces responded immediately with “precise strikes” on the sources of fire, causing “confirmed hits” and forcing attackers to retreat. It added that its units were fully prepared to repel any attack, stressing that its response would always be “decisive.”
According to the correspondent, the two sides later exchanged rocket and artillery fire on the fronts of al-Khafseh and al-Kiyariyeh villages in eastern Aleppo countryside. This came after several SDF fighters infiltrated al-Khafseh before withdrawing, which triggered renewed clashes.
Meanwhile, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that the SDF shelled the vicinity of Tel Maaz village east of Aleppo with mortars. Enab Baladi’s correspondent said Syrian army units around Tel Maaz responded with artillery fire.
Previous clashes in Deir Ezzor
On September 14, the SDF said its forces had come under attack in eastern Deir Ezzor, while an Enab Baladi correspondent reported that the SDF shelled a river ferry, sparking clashes with Syrian army forces.
According to the SDF, its units stationed near the al-Ashara Bridge in the town of Darnaj (eastern Deir Ezzor) came under fire from armed groups affiliated with the Syrian government while allegedly securing smugglers’ passage across the Euphrates River.
The correspondent reported that SDF fighters opened fire on a ferry with medium and light weapons, killing a civilian. This provoked anger among local tribes and Defense Ministry personnel, leading to clashes in which Syrian army and tribal fighters captured several SDF members.
In response, the SDF dispatched 15 armored vehicles and shelled the town of Darnaj.
On August 25, Deir Ezzor province also witnessed scattered attacks targeting Syrian army checkpoints and an Interior Ministry security post, injuring civilians. According to Enab Baladi’s correspondent at the time, the SDF shelled a Syrian army post in the town of al-Ashara.
Eastern Deir Ezzor has seen repeated attacks against both the SDF and Syrian government forces, amid rising military and security tensions in the province.
Armed attack targets SDF in Deir Ezzor, eastern Syria
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