📰 SDF fighter killed, base attacked in suspected ISIS assaults in Deir ez-Zor

DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – A fighter of the Syrian Democratic troops (SDF) was killed and a armed forces position came under attack on Tuesday evening in two separate incidents carried out by unknown gunmen, suspected to be affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS), in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria. Indeed, a armed forces source from the SDF in Deir ez-Zor informed North Press that unidentified assailants riding a motorcycle opened fire on Ayman al-Kalash, 27, in front of his home in the village of Sabha, east of Deir ez-Zor.   The source stated al-Kalash was killed instantly, adding that the attackers fled the village while chanting slogans in backing of ISIS.

Al-Kalash was on leave at the time of the attack, as per the source.    In a separate incident, the same source stated unidentified gunmen targeted an SDF military position in the town of al-Kishkiyah, also in the east of Deir ez-Zor, using automatic weapons.   The attack caused material damage only, with no casualties declared, the source noted.   The incidents come amid persisted security tensions in Deir ez-Zor’s eastern countryside, where ISIS cells remain active and periodically carry out assassinations and hit-and-run attacks targeting SDF personnel and facilities. Reporting by Omar Abdurrahman Editing by Jwan Shekaki