The Syrian regime has withdrawn forces from its areas of control in Deir Ezzor province, eastern Syria, to the city of Homs.
Omar Abu Laila, director of the Deir Ezzor 24 website, spoke via his account on “X” on Friday, December 6, about the ongoing withdrawals of regime forces from Deir Ezzor.
Abu Laila published a video recording that he claimed showed the withdrawals from the western countryside of Deir Ezzor.
A correspondent for Enab Baladi reported from Deir Ezzor that the regime had withdrawn from the entire eastern line of the Shamiya region, including the cities and towns of al-Mayadin, al-Quriya, al-Boulil, and Buqrus.
They also withdrew from Deir Ezzor airport towards Homs.
The correspondent added that some of the Iranian militias withdrew toward the al-Hari crossing in the city of al-Bukamal, bordering Iraq.
Deir Ezzor province is controlled by two military forces, alongside the presence of foreign forces in both areas of control.
The eastern Euphrates region is controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), supported by the International Coalition Forces (ICF), and there are coalition bases present in the area.
However, there are seven villages not controlled by the SDF: al-Salhiya, Tabia, Hatla, Khesham, Marrat, Mazloum, and Husseiniya.
As for the western Euphrates region in Deir Ezzor, it is controlled by the regime’s forces, which see a deployment of Iranian militias of various nationalities, along with local militias affiliated with Iran.
Last Monday, the Deir Ezzor Military Council, affiliated with the SDF, attacked regime forces stationed in the eastern Euphrates to take control of them, but the attack failed for several reasons, according to a leader in the council speaking to Enab Baladi.
The reasons cited were: the resistance of regime forces and allied militias in the area, heavy shelling by regime forces, the SDF’s withdrawal of its forces and the prevention of their participation in the operation, and the refusal to allow tribal fighters from the region to take part in the attack.
Additionally, there was a shortage of weapons used in the battle, which did not cover all fronts.
Continuous withdrawals
The regime’s withdrawals from Deir Ezzor coincide with its withdrawals from various areas, especially from Hama province after opposition factions took control of the city, directing their forces toward Homs to repel the opposition’s advance toward the city.
On November 27, the factions launched a military operation they called “Deterrence of Aggression,” in response to the regime’s repeated shelling of areas in northwestern Syria, stating that its aim is to expand “safe zones” in preparation for the return of displaced and internally displaced persons.
Since the launch of the operation, the factions have taken control of the city of Aleppo and most of its countryside, the entire administrative area of Idlib city, and the city of Hama in central Syria, and are currently moving toward the city of Homs, where the factions have taken control of areas in its northern countryside.