Anti-smuggling raids  | Deir Ezzor Military council storms river crossings in eastern Deir Ezzor

Deir Ezzor province: Reliable sources informed SOHR that members of Deir Ezzor Military council that serves under the banner of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have stormed river crossings used for smuggling in Al-Janinah village west of Deir Ezzor and chased smugglers and seized their equipment.

This comes in light of the ongoing anti-smuggling operations that are active in vast areas in Deir Ezzor countryside.

Yesterday, reliable SOHR sources confirmed that clashes with machine guns erupted between SDF and smugglers on the bank of Euphrates river in Al-Marashidah village in Al-Susah district in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. It is worth noting that the smugglers were smuggling cattle to regime-held areas. However, no casualties have been reported.

SOHR sources reported that Hajin Military Council operating under the banner of Deir Ezzor Military Council confiscated large amounts of medicines and diesel in Suwaydan Jazeera town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, as they were en route to regime-controlled areas.

On December 21, Observatory sources reported that Asayish forces stormed a house in Al-Sha’fa city in eastern Deir Ezzor, arresting a civilian for “involving in smuggling operations”. The man was taken to a prison in Hajin.

On the other hand, exchange of fire erupted between members of Self-Defence Forces stationed in their post in Al-Jinah area and smugglers, where they were smuggling oil across Euphrates river to areas controlled by regime forces and Iranian-backed militias in Deir Ezzor countryside.