ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Wednesday confirmed it had dismissed a top Arab commander in the eastern Deir ez-Zor province for numerous crimes and violations including affiliation with external entities. Clashes erupted in SDF-held regions of Deir ez-Zor province on Sunday after the force arrested Ahmed Khbeil, better known as Abu Khawla, commander of the SDF-linked Deir ez-Zor Military Council, and several of his colleagues after inviting them to a meeting in Hasaka, northeast Syria (Rojava), which led Arab tribesmen to revolt against the Kurdish-led force in protest. The SDF “decided to dismiss the commander of the Deir ez-Zor Military Council, Ahmed Khbeil, from his duty along with four other individuals within the council, directly involved in crimes and violations” including “communication and coordination with external entities hostile to the revolution,” drug trafficking, exploiting his position, and failing to curb an increase of Islamic State (ISIS) activities, the force said in a statement. The Deir ez-Zor Military Council is responsible for the security in the SDF-held parts of the Arab-majority province, and has played a key role in the US-led force’s military operations against ISIS in Syria. Some media outlets claimed that he had recently gotten closer to the Syrian regime. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said that at least 28 people have been killed in Deir ez-Zor since clashes ensued on Sunday, including 19 tribesmen and six SDF fighters. Abu Khawla has reportedly been replaced by his deputy, Abu Laith Khisham. Hours after Abu Khawla was arrested, the SDF launched “Operation Security Reinforcement” in Deir ez-Zor, claiming that it followed calls from the area’s commanders and tribal leaders to stop ISIS attacks. Some saw the operation as an effort to prevent resistance from Abu Khawla's supporters in the area. Curfews have been imposed by the SDF in Hasaka and neighbouring areas following the development.
