Deadly Deir az-Zour clashes erupt again in eastern Syria

Clashes between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Arab tribal militias formerly allied with them erupted again on Monday evening in the eastern province of Deir az-Zour with civilians injured and killed by drone strikes and gunfire.

An elderly individual was killed and two men and three children were injured due to SDF strikes on the banks of the Euphrates River near Abu Hamam, according local sources.

The sources told The New Arab's sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the clashes broke out again last night as the SDF attempted to enter the Al-Latwa area of the town of Dhiban in eastern Deir az-Zour. The attack was halted after the SDF sustained casualties. 

The SDF previously said it had taken full control of Dhiban but tribal militias opposed to them are still active in Al-Latwa.

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The sources added that an unidentified drone, believed to belong to the SDF, reportedly targeted a civilian vehicle near the Euphrates River in Abu Hamam, wounding two civilians. 

They also said that two children were injured by alleged SDF gunfire in the town of Darnaj. Other reports said the source of the gunfire was regime-controlled Al-Asharah, just across the Euphrates river.

Amid the ongoing clashes between the SDF and the Arab tribal militias, the Assad regime-allied Palestinian Liwa Al-Quds militia said that two of its members had been killed during confrontations with Islamic State group militants in Deir az-Zour.