Northeastern Syria is witnessing a state of chaos and lawlessness. Acts of murder, theft, robbery, and violations against children and women are widespread. Residents are suffering from a lack of basic necessities such as water, bread, and fuel, in addition to the absence of security and safety. This is despite the fact that the region is rich in oil, water, and agricultural resources and is considered Syria’s breadbasket. Dozens of international humanitarian organizations and charities are present, but the increase in corruption, looting, and theft, and the lack of accountability, have had a negative impact on the region’s inhabitants. Here is a summary of the most important events documented in just 24 hours:
Acts of violence and assassinations:
- Unknown gunmen attacked oil tankers belonging to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the villages of Jadid Bakarah and Al-Dahlah in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.
- A tribal dispute erupted in the town of Al-Azbah north of Deir Ezzor, resulting in the death of a man named Thamer Karim Al-Rashid.
- A 7-year-old girl, Hind Saleh Ali Al-Middid, was killed and her mother was injured by sniper fire from SDF forces while they were working in their agricultural land west of Deir Ezzor.
- Unidentified men riding a motorcycle and a car assassinated a mosque imam named Mullah Hamid after he left evening prayers in the Sabaghah area in the Jazirat al-Jarzira desert west of Deir Ezzor.
Robbery and theft operations:
- An armed gang raided the house of Muhammad Nour Al-Rawi in the town of Mazra’at al-Safafa east of the city of Tabqa in the countryside of Raqqa, and stole money and gold jewelry worth $16,000, 18,000 Saudi riyals, 8 million Syrian liras, and 850 grams of gold.
Attacks on SDF checkpoints:
- The “Al-Ja’abi” checkpoint of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on the outskirts of the city of Hajin in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor was subjected to an armed attack.
Suicide incidents:
- A young man named Omar Ibrahim Makhattat al-Doda committed suicide by shooting himself in the city of Hajin east of Deir Ezzor, due to financial pressures and family problems.
Other murders:
- A man named Musa Al-Kadrou was killed and his son was injured in the town of Jazirat al-Bohmaid west of Deir Ezzor, by gunfire from one of his relatives due to an old blood feud.
- A woman was killed by sniper fire from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Huwaigiyah area west of Deir Ezzor.
- A young man named Hamoud Bardi Al-Kroush was killed by unknown gunmen who stormed his house in the city of Al-Buseirah east of Deir Ezzor.
Human suffering:
- An atmosphere of fear, panic, and chaos prevails in the region, in addition to a shortage of water, fuel, and bread,and high prices with limited availability.
- Residents are calling on the international coalition, as the party responsible for the resource-rich region, to assume its responsibilities and improve living conditions.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list of all acts of violence and chaos in northeastern Syria. It only covers those that were documented in 24 hours.
The residents are suffering from extremely difficult humanitarian conditions due to the ongoing conflict in the region. The international community, including the international coalition, has a responsibility to protect civilians and improve conditions in the region.