SYRIA: Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Turkey return to Deir ez-Zor countryside
Deir ez-Zor – The co-chair of the Deir ez-Zor Civil Council Ghassan al-Youssef, stated that thousands of displaced people from the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, who had sought refuge in Turkey and Lebanon, have returned after the region has become more stable, North Press Agency reported.
In his statement to the media, al-Youssef stated that local, regional and international parties are trying to publicly exploit the situation for their own interests and so destabilize the security and stability of the region. He also explained that the civil administration of the Deir ez-Zor region has a clear strategy for the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, with regards to public services and the restoration and reconstruction of infrastructure.
In the next few days, electricity will be established through al-Sheel Electricity Transfer Station and distributed to the eastern countryside so water stations can irrigate for long hours, al-Youssef added.
Al-Youssef stated that ISIS cells targeted the infrastructure of the region and destabilized security by targeting civil workers and security employees. The Civil Administration and notable personalities in the Deir ez-zor countryside called upon the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Security Police Forces to carry out security operations and pursue ISIS cells.
In the past months, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched several campaigns and security operations against ISIS cells operating in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-zor and near the Iraqi border. Their campaigns and operations resulted in dozens of arrests of suspected ISIS members while prominent ISIS leaders and other members were eliminated resisting arrest by the security forces.