On September 3, the US Embassy in Syria confirmed that US government representatives met with representatives of Kurdish rebel forces and local authorities in eastern Syria to discuss measures to reduce escalating violence.
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| Soldiers of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Deir Ezzor province. (Source: almayadeen.net) |
Fighting broke out in Deir Ezzor province after the US-backed Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) captured Ahmad al-Khabil, chairman of the provincial military council, on August 27.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , the fighting left 49 fighters on both sides and eight civilians dead.
The announcement said that US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Ethan Goldrich and Commander of the anti-Islamic State (IS) coalition in Syria and Iraq, Major General Joel Vowell, held a meeting "in northeastern Syria" with the SDF, Kurdish authorities and tribal leaders in Deir Ezzor province.
The parties agreed on “the importance of addressing existing problems”, “the dangers of outside intervention” and “the need to avoid civilian casualties”.
In addition, the parties also emphasized "the need to de-escalate violence as soon as possible".
Deir Ezzor province, with a majority Arab population, is currently controlled by the SDF to the east of the Euphrates River; while forces loyal to the Syrian President and Iran-aligned fighters are stationed to the west.
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