By Mehmet Burak Karacaoglu and Omer Koparan
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (AA) - Nine areas in eastern Syria saw fighting Wednesday between Arab tribes and the US-backed terror group PKK/YPG, in an escalation of tensions in the province of Deir ez-Zor, sources told Anadolu.
Arab tribes clashed with PKK/YPG terrorists in the eastern and southeastern rural areas of Deir ez-Zor in the morning.
The tribes attacked road checkpoints and the headquarters of the PKK/YPG in the villages of Al-Busayrah, Ibrahiyyah, Alharija, Tayyaneh, Abu Hamam, Gazanic, Kashkiyya and Dhiban and Latwa.
A warplane belonging to the international coalition led by the US made a low flight above the Deir ez-Zor countryside.
In areas occupied by the PKK/YPG in Deir ez-Zor, sporadic clashes have been occurring since last August between oppressed Arab tribes and terrorists.
Arab tribes cleared 33 villages of terrorists in the Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa and Hasakah provinces, as well as the Manbij district of Aleppo, by carrying out attacks last August and September.
But tribal forces later withdrew from the villages to prevent civilian casualties from YPG/PKK attacks and agreed to negotiate with US forces, who work with the YPG/PKK.
- PKK/YPG occupation in Deir ez-Zor
The entire population of Deir ez-Zor, which the terror group has occupied under the pretext of fighting Daesh/ISIS with the support of the US military, consists of Arabs.
The terror group forcibly conscripts Arab minors in areas it occupies.
The terrorists generate income by selling oil to Damascus through smugglers, from seized oil wells in the region, despite US sanctions. While the YPG/PKK uses the income for its purposes, residents in the region are deprived of services and much-needed aid.
In its 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK -- listed as a terror organization by Türkiye, the US and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is its Syrian branch.
Neighboring Türkiye, which has long been opposed to the US, its NATO ally, giving arms and support to the terrorist YPG/PKK, said using one terror group to fight another makes no sense, and pointed to the threat to locals and Turkish border regions posed by the YPG/PKK.
*Writing by Gozde Bayar