Clashes in Kurdish region kill dozens, US seeks to reduce escalating violence in the East

Clashes between the Syrian army and armed factions backed by Türkiye in the Kurdish region of northeastern Syria have left 23 people dead, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said on September 3.

Tình hình Syria: Đụng độ tại khu vực người Kurd hàng chục người thiệt mạng, Mỹ tìm cách giảm bạo lực leo thang ở miền Đông

Syria situation: Clashes in Kurdish region kill dozens, US seeks to reduce escalating violence in the East. (Source: Getty)

According to SOHR, clashes occurred when Turkish-backed fighters were trying to infiltrate the Hasakeh province area.

The incident left 18 people from pro-Ankara factions dead. The Syrian government's armed forces also suffered five casualties and many others were injured.

Over the past few days, a coalition of Turkish-backed militant groups – calling themselves the “Syrian National Army” – has repeatedly attempted to infiltrate the Kurdish region and clashed with local fighters affiliated with the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Since 2016, Ankara has launched several campaigns to attack the Kurds in northern Syria and gain control of the area along the common border between the two countries.

* The US Embassy in Syria confirmed on September 3 that US government representatives met with representatives of Kurdish rebel forces and local authorities in eastern Syria to discuss measures to reduce escalating violence .

Fighting broke out in Deir Ezzor province after the US-backed SDF captured Ahmad al-Khabil, chairman of the provincial military council, on August 27. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the fighting left 49 fighters on both sides and eight civilians dead.

The announcement said that the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Ethan Goldrich, and the commander of the coalition against the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) group in Syria and Iraq, Major General Joel Vowell, held a meeting "in northeastern Syria" with the SDF, the Kurdish government and tribal leaders in Deir Ezzor province.

The parties agreed on “the importance of addressing existing problems”, “the dangers of outside intervention” and “the need to avoid civilian casualties”.

In addition, the parties also emphasized "the need to de-escalate violence as soon as possible".

Deir Ezzor province, with a majority Arab population, is currently controlled by the SDF to the east of the Euphrates River; while forces loyal to the Syrian President and Iran-aligned fighters are stationed to the west.

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