ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Eight members of a self-defence force in northeastern Syria were killed in two separate attacks this past week, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Sunday. One attacked was blamed on the Islamic State (ISIS) and the other on Turkish-backed militias, highlighting ongoing security threats in the region. On Friday, Turkish-backed militias attacked al-Hoshan village in the Ain Issa area and on the major highway that runs east-west across northern Syria. They targeted a station of the self-defence forces, killing four, according to an SDF statement. At the same time to the south, an ISIS sleeper cell attacked a station of the self-defence forces in al-Dashisha, Deir ez-Zor province, killing four members of the force, the SDF stated. The self-defence units are a conscription force in northeastern Syria. They are mainly stationed at checkpoints, in support roles, and relied on as back-up troops, rather than being posted to the frontline, according to the Rojava Information Centre. Turkey seized control of a stretch of territory along its border, from Gire Spi (Tal Abyad in Arabic) to Sari Kani (Ras al-Ayn in Arabic) last October, pushing the Kurdish-led SDF south of the highway. Ankara accuses the SDF of ties with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the SDF withdrew from some areas and invited Syrian regime forces to the borders in deals brokered by Washington and Moscow. Tensions remain high along the frontline between them, however. The eastern province of Deir ez-Zor is under SDF control, but security is a problem as it borders regime-held areas and is a hotspot of ISIS activity. There has also been violence this summer between local Arab tribes and the SDF. While ISIS is still able to carry out frequent attacks against security forces and civilian populations, the Global Coalition against ISIS believes that given the complexity and consequences of the group’s activities, indications are “that ISIS is not resurging,” according to a recent Pentagon report.
