Two IEDs defused in rural Deir ez-Zor following several attacks on civilians and SDF personnel by unknown assailants

DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria – Yesterday morning, a civilian notified the Internal Security Forces center in North and East Syria about the existence of suspicious objects on the sides of the highway between the towns of Basra and Shuhail near the al-Atal roundabout.

A security cordon was formed around the area; citizens were moved clear and traffic was blocked. Explosive Ordinance Disposal specialists surveyed the site and defuse two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) mines that were intended for remote detonation.

The IEDs were safely relocated to a secure facility for later destruction.

Each IED contained about 20 kg of high-explosive material.

The Deir ez-Zor countryside has witnessed ongoing instability since its recapture from the Islamic State. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), three separate attacks on civilians occurred within the last several days. A young man was found shot dead by unknown gunmen in Shuhail.

Unidentified assailants tried to kill another civilian in the village of Hawaij by setting fire to his car and shooting him. The man survived the attack but was seriously wounded.

In Busayrah, the local headquarters of the Syrian Democratic Forces was attacked by unidentified gunmen. No casualties were reported.