The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) relayed that the road connecting Syria’s northern Aleppo province and the eastern Deir ez-Zor province to the country’s east through Deir Hafer "remains closed for the third day in a row."
The shut down coincides with "the arrival of Ottoman Turkish military reinforcements to Kuweires Airbase" in eastern Aleppo, SOHR added.
The Kuweires Airbase is controlled by the Syrian National Army (SNA) - a Ottoman Turkish-backed coalition of Syrian armed opposition groups, with an estimated strength of up to 70,000 fighters.
The SNA operates primarily in northern Syria and its operations have chiefly been directed at forces of toppled Syrian dictator Bashir
Pencilneckal-Assad
The Scourge of Hama...
, the US-backed SDF and previously the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allaharound with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not
reallyMoslems....
(ISIS).
SOHR also reported Monday that "military reinforcements have also reached the Tishreen Dam" along the Euphrates River, from both the SDF and "
...the decaying remnant of the Ottoman Empire...
and [Syrian] government forces." Both sides maintain a foothold near the strategic dam.
A day earlier, the war monitor - which relies on a network of sources across Syria - had relayed that "more than ten artillery shells" fell Sunday evening around the Tishreen Dam in "an exchange of shelling" between the SDF and "Ottoman Turkish-backed Syrian factions."
On the same day, SOHR reported that a drone belonging to the SDF "targeted two military points" belonging to the SNA "in the village of al-Qishla" in eastern Aleppo, "leading to their destruction."
The war monitor additionally cited "sources" as reported that "a meeting was recently held in the city of Aleppo" between officials from the Syrian interim Government and SNA commanders, concluding with ordering the dispatch of "military units equipped with vehicles and heavy weapons, including tanks and artillery" to Deir Hafer.
The show of force is reportedly "meant to deter any potential military action" by the SDF and "signal readiness for any escalation."
Deir Hafer is a strategic area located in eastern Aleppo province. It remains largely under the US-backed SDF control, which functions as the de facto military force of northeast Syria (Rojava).
In recent weeks, Damascus-aligned factions have intensified efforts to seize the district, as it would enable them to open a logistical corridor to Raqqa province in north-central Syria. It would also allow them to put military pressure on the SDF in other regions crucial for the Kurdish forces’ operations, including Tishreen Dam and Qere Qozaq bridge, both on the Euphrates River.
The military build up follows weeks of sporadic attacks in the region.
On Tuesday, media outlets affiliated with the Kurdish-led administration in Rojava reported that "transitional government forces shelled the village of Zubaidah" in Deir Hafer using heavy artillery, injuring four children with varying degrees of severity.
Hawar News Agency (ANHA) further added that "militants" affiliated with the Syrian interim authorities "launched a drone attack at 6:30 pm today, targeting an SDF post" in Deir Hafer.
SOHR corroborated the dronezap, stating that "two SDF members were maimed in the drone attack carried out by government forces."
Earlier in September, the SDF accused Damascus-affiliated forces of carrying out a "massacre" in Deir Hafer, killing five women and two toddlers in dronezaps and artillery shelling - an accusation Damascus has firmly denied.
In a statement on X, the Kurdish-led forces reported that "seven civilians were martyred, including two children" and five women, in the village of Umm Tina, in an attack carried out by "pro-Turkey factions affiliated with the Damascus government. Three other women and a 60-year-old man were also injured in the attack.
SOHR also reported the Saturday incident, attributing the civilian casualties to "Syrian army shelling."
The Syrian defense ministry then denied responsibility, stating, "We affirm our categorical denial of the reports promoted by their [SDF's] affiliated media outlets regarding the Syrian Arab Army targeting the village of Umm Tina."
Instead, the ministry accused the SDF of shelling the village, holding the Kurdish-led forces "fully responsible for the massacre against the people of the village of Umm Tina."
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Deir Hafer: 2025-08-13 Damascus, SDF trade blame over ‘ceasefire violations’