Deir ez-Zor Captured by Kurdish Groups; Iraq Says It Will Not Intervene Militarily in Syria

Reports from eastern Syria indicate that U.S.-backed Kurdish forces (SDF) have entered parts of the city of Deir ez-Zor following the withdrawal of the Syrian army and Iranian-backed Iraqi militias. Two security sources told Reuters on Friday, December 7, that the Syrian Democratic Forces, known as SDF or "QSD," would take full control of Deir ez-Zor by Friday evening. The military council of the Syrian Democratic Forces also announced in a statement that fighters from this group had entered parts of the city. Omar Abulil, a media activist connected to the city, told Reuters that Syrian government forces and Iranian-backed Iraqi fighters had retreated from Deir ez-Zor before the arrival of the Syrian Democratic Forces. Shortly after, two sources from the Syrian army told Reuters that the Syrian Democratic Forces were advancing towards the city of Al-Bukamal on the Iraqi border. An Iraqi security source also reported that these forces were on their way to Al-Bukamal and might capture it within the next 24 hours. In response, during Abbas Araghchi's visit to Baghdad and his meetings with the foreign ministers of Iraq and Syria, a spokesman for the Iraqi government announced that Baghdad does not intend to intervene militarily in Syria. According to the official Iraqi news agency, Bassim al-Awadi stated on Friday that the fragmentation of Syria is a "red line" for Iraq. He emphasized that the Iraqi government is seeking a "balanced political solution" regarding the recent developments in Syria. The Iranian Foreign Minister also stated in a joint press conference with his Iraqi and Syrian counterparts that the Islamic Republic has supported Syria in its "fight against terrorist groups with all its might" but reiterated that Iran's actions would be based on the request of the Syrian government. On December 4, amid clashes between Islamist rebels and the Syrian army, he stated that if the Damascus government requests troop deployment, the Islamic Republic would consider this request. The advance of the Syrian Democratic Forces in eastern Syria coincided with an attack by Islamist Syrian rebels led by the group "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham," which was previously linked to al-Qaeda, towards the central city of Homs on Friday. The U.S. officially designated the group "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" as a terrorist organization in 2018; the European Union, the UK, Turkey, and several other countries have also listed this group as a terrorist entity. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham and its allied groups entered the central towns of Rastan and Talbiseh in northern Homs early Friday and are approaching Syria's third-largest city. Meanwhile, Reuters reported, citing two senior security sources in Lebanon, that Hezbollah sent a small group of "observer forces" to Syria last night to assist the Syrian government and prevent the fall of Homs. According to one of these sources, the mentioned group includes senior officers who intend to oversee the operations of Hezbollah's militia, which has been present in Syria near the Lebanese border for years. On the other hand, a Syrian army officer and two sources close to Tehran told the same news agency that "elite" Hezbollah forces have entered Syria and have taken positions in Homs. The rebels had previously dealt a significant blow to Bashar al-Assad's government by capturing the northern city of Aleppo last week and the city of Hama earlier this week. Deir ez-Zor was also home to a cultural center and Iranian advisors who came to the country after the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011. Iranian-backed militias have bolstered the fighting force of Bashar al-Assad's government throughout the war, which began with the suppression of a pro-democracy uprising. Deir ez-Zor province, an oil-rich area bordering Iraq, is divided between Kurdish forces in the east of the Euphrates and Syrian government forces supported by Iran and their proxy forces in the west. The area under control in Deir ez-Zor near the Iraqi border is a key center for Iranian-backed forces, including Iraqi militia fighters. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights based in the UK reported earlier that Syrian government forces had retreated from the central city of Homs following an attack by Islamist rebels from Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham; however, the Syrian Ministry of Defense rejected this report. According to Rami Abdulrahman, the director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, "Syrian soldiers have retreated from the city of Homs to its outskirts"; however, the Syrian Ministry of Defense stated that reports of the army's retreat from Homs are not true. Meanwhile, the Israeli army announced on Friday that it is reinforcing its air and ground forces in the Golan Heights to respond to the extensive advances of Islamist rebels in Syria. The Israeli army stated in a statement that it is "monitoring developments and is prepared for all scenarios, whether offensive or defensive." The Israeli army also emphasized that it will not tolerate any threats near the Israeli border. Meanwhile, the Russian state news agency TASS reported that the Russian embassy in Syria has requested Russian citizens to leave the country via commercial flights following the start of the rebels' attack against the Syrian army. The General Directorate of Public Security in Lebanon also announced that it will close all its border crossings with Syria, except for the main crossing connecting Beirut to Damascus, until further notice. This decision was made after an Israeli airstrike on the Arida border crossing in northern Lebanon, which had just reopened a few days ago, caused serious damage. The Public Security Directorate of Lebanon stated that "for the safety of travelers, border crossings will be closed until further notice," and the Masnaa crossing in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon will remain the only open crossing.