Assailants attack Women's Protection Units in Deir Ezzor

(Zaman Al Wasl)- Dozen of the US-backed forces were killed and wounded by unknown assailants in eastern Deir Ezzor province, local activists said Sunday.

The attack targeted the Kurdihs Women's Protection Units (YPJ) in the town of al-Jerzi, four day after an ambush left two fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces killed in the eastern bank of Euphrates River. 

Three more SDF fighters were killed on Monday in similar attack in the town of al-Huwaij, according to activist Taj al-Allow said.

 

Five towns are still under Daesh control in the eastern bank of Euphrates River. The tiny territory has endured to major offensive by Kurdish forces since June.  

The SDF backed by the US-led coalition airstrikes reached the town of al-Hajeen this week. Senior Daesh fighters have withdrawn to the town of Almuhassan.

The YPG-led forces have also made gains against Daesh east of Markada town, taking three villages.

The SDF, which the Kurdish YPG militia spearheads, has been the main partner of the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State in Syria, helping drive the jihadists out of swathes of northern and eastern Syria last year.

In relevant development, the US-led coaltions airstrikes pounded displaced people were fleeing Daesh-held areas in the Sousa desert, leavign dozen killed and wounded. 

Also in Deir Ezzor, the SDF have freed 114 people in eastern Raqqa province after one month in detention, local activists said.

Most of the freed people were civilians along with fighters from Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa, the rival group to the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, according to Raqqa-based activist Muhab Naser. 

At least 200 tribesmen, mostly from Thuwar al-Raqqa, have been arrested by the SDF in the last four weeks.

 

The SDF last Saturday freed 20 women were arrested in Raqqa city after they protested to get their husbands freed, local reporter said.

The Kurdish-led forces, according to the leading civil group Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently, have beaten the freed women. They rallied in front of Asayesh prison, local security units, to demand the release of their husbands and relatives after the death of rebel fighter in the same prison.