SYRIA: Members Al-Akidat tribe protest demanding arrests after assassination of Sheikh Mutashar al-Hafil

DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria — After a series of successful and unsuccessful assassination attempts of some tribal sheikhs in the countryside of Deir ez-Zor, demonstrations took place in the village of Al-Hawaij on Tuesday, demanding the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to reveal information about the attacks and arrest the killers of Sheikh Mutashar al-Hafil, one of the sheikhs of Al-Akidat clan.

Reports of clashes between between protesters and local elements of the SDF could not be verified.

In a public statement, the DAA of North and East Syria declared that the aim of the attacks seems to be to divide the peoples of North and East and sow distrust between ethnic and tribal groups. The DAA accused the opponents of the democratic system in region but did not specifically name who they believed were behind the attacks.

The General Command of the Internal Security Forces in Deir ez-Zor extended its condolences to the families of the martyred sheikhs and confirmed the continuation of investigations to arrest those responsible and bring them to justice as quickly as possible.

The Hajin Military Council announced that the situation in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor has become more stable after the SDF established checkpoints in the region.