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Arab tribal groups supported by the Syrian military and Iran have attacked areas held by a Kurdish-led militia in the oil-producing region of eastern Syria, in a challenge to US influence in the area, local sources said on Wednesday.
Two civilians were killed and five others were wounded in Deir Ezzor, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces said.
The violence comes amid an escalation in tension in the region over the war in Gaza, particularly between allies of Iran and the US.
The SDF said the fighting is ongoing with “Syrian regime-backed mercenaries”.
Tribal forces, led by a pro-Iranian militia called Lions of Okaidat, overran the towns of Gharanij and Um Al Hamam on the Euphrates River, a Syrian government official told The National.
The militia, like many pro-Iranian paramilitary groups, was set up by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, three years ago.
The force includes disgruntled fighters from other tribes who participated in a failed uprising last year against the SDF militia, which is dominated by Kurdish fighters.
Deir Ezzor is divided between a US sphere of influence and areas jointly controlled by the Syrian army and pro-Iranian militias.
However, the US zone is responsible for most of Syria's oil and wheat production.
The SDF rules areas where two of the country's key oil and gasfields – Al Omar and Conoco – are situated.
Muhannad Katee, a Syrian researcher who specialises in the east of the country, said that unlike the popular uprising last year, the movement is “the work of Iran”.
“It is aimed at putting pressure on US forces,” he said. “I think the people see it as an Iranian move and it will fizzle down.”
Syrian media outlets opposed to President Bashar Al Assad reported that the US military has sent reinforcements to a base in Al Omar oilfield, one of the largest in Syria. The field is situated around 15km from the main areas where the pro-Iranian fighters are battling the SDF.
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Iraq negotiating over Iran sanctions impact
- US sanctions on Iran’s energy industry and exports took effect on Monday, November 5.
- Washington issued formal waivers to eight buyers of Iranian oil, allowing them to continue limited imports. Iraq did not receive a waiver.
- Iraq’s government is cooperating with the US to contain Iranian influence in the country, and increased Iraqi oil production is helping to make up for Iranian crude that sanctions are blocking from markets, US officials say.
- Iraq, the second-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, pumped last month at a record 4.78 million barrels a day, former Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said on Oct. 20. Iraq exported 3.83 million barrels a day last month, according to tanker tracking and data from port agents.
- Iraq has been working to restore production at its northern Kirkuk oil field. Kirkuk could add 200,000 barrels a day of oil to Iraq’s total output, Hook said.
- The country stopped trucking Kirkuk oil to Iran about three weeks ago, in line with U.S. sanctions, according to four people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified because they aren’t allowed to speak to media.
- Oil exports from Iran, OPEC’s third-largest supplier, have slumped since President Donald Trump announced in May that he’d reimpose sanctions. Iran shipped about 1.76 million barrels a day in October out of 3.42 million in total production, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
- Benchmark Brent crude fell 47 cents to $72.70 a barrel in London trading at 7:26 a.m. local time. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was 25 cents lower at $62.85 a barrel in New York. WTI held near the lowest level in seven months as concerns of a tightening market eased after the U.S. granted its waivers to buyers of Iranian crude.
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