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Deir Ezzor 24 exclusive:
The National Defense Militia elements in Deir Ezzor demanded what they called the “Syrian leadership” to allow them to cross the Euphrates River and take control of the western Deir Ezzor countryside.
The demand followed a meeting between officials of the National Defense Militia and the Assad’s forces that was held on Monday morning 7/10/2019 in Al-Mayadeen city east of Deir Ezzor, where the National Defense Militia demanded the Assad’s forces to allow them to cross the Euphrates River and take control of positions in the region.
According to sources of Deir Ezzor 24, the National Defense confirmed that the SDF are collapsed in the face of the Turkish threatenings, and that gaining control of Deir Ezzor countryside is just a matter of time.
Assad’s forces, in turn, rejected the demands of the national defense, arguing that they need the approval of the Russian forces or the operation would be very difficult.
The sources pointed out that the meeting lasted for three hours and was attended by leaders of Assad’s forces and the military security branch, and that the Assad regime refused to carry out any operation without Moscow’s approval.
About a month ago, Iranian-backed militias had made the same demand for the Russian forces in Deir Ezzor, but the latter refused to support any military operation in the region.
Iran and the Assad regime are seeking to take advantage of the Turkish threatenings to occupy areas controlled by the SDF in Deir Ezzor countryside, but those demands have been met with Russian rejection so far.
It is noteworthy that The SDF control large areas of Deir Ezzor province and have large front lines with Assad’s forces west of the Euphrates.