U.S. Officials Seek to Ease Tensions in Syria's Deir al Zor Amid Tribal Unrest
U.S. officials, including the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Syria and the head of the coalition against Islamic State, visited Syria's Deir al Zor province to address the ongoing Arab tribal unrest against Kurdish rule. The uprising, sparked by the arrest of a renegade Arab commander, has led to clashes and threatens the stability of northeast Syria. The U.S. officials met with Arab tribal leaders and Kurdish commanders, agreeing to address grievances and de-escalate violence. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) accuse Iran and the Damascus government of exploiting the unrest, while Arab tribal leaders demand greater control over their oil-rich territory.