The coalition intensify their air strikes on the roads in Deir Ezzor after dropping warning leaflets

Language / اللغة العربية

The international coalition have recently intensified their air strikes in Deir Ezzor, targeting mainly the strategic roads and bridges in multiple areas of the province.

On September 08, 2016, coalition warplanes dropped leaflets over Al-Mayadin and some villages in the eastern countryside, warning civilians not to approach the roads and bridges in the region because “they will be among the list of the targets in the region.”

On September 10, the coalition began launching their systematic intense air strikes on all of the bridges and roads in the region which lasted until September 15. At least more than 15 targets were bombed, including the Raqqa-Deir Ezzor highway, the Al-Bukamal-Deir Ezzor highway, which is located in the area of Al-Salhiyah in the eastern countryside, and the principal and alternative roads situated near the villages of Al-Kharitah, west Deir Ezzor, Al-Buhassan, Albu Khater and Al-Bahra in the eastern countryside.

Several of the bridges, mainly utilized by Daesh, which connect the Deir Ezzor areas of Al-Shamiyah and Al-Jazeera, were also struck. An air strike cut off the road leading to the bridge located in the village of Hawayej Diyab Shamiyah.

Contrary to the coalition statement, not all of the roads were cut off, as the organization rehabilitated and repaired all of them in a matter of days. Since the roads are located in open areas in the province, the process of opening new alternative route supplies by Daesh remains an easy task.

The organization has already proven its capability of fixing and repairing the bridges which experience coalition air strikes. It had previously fixed many of the bridges in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor after they were destroyed. There are also more river crossing methods  rather than the bridges which the group has relayed on in recent years.

The targeting of the bridges and roads by the coalition seem to be counterproductive, amid no signs of the beginning of any military operation towards the province of Deir Ezzor, making civilians the only victims to these ineffective air strikes.