US-backed Kurds capture strategic Deir ez-Zor, Syrian forces retreat
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have taken control of Deir ez-Zor, previously held by Syrian government forces, as part of a broader strategy to counter Turkish-backed militants and the Islamic State. This move comes amid escalating tensions in Syria, with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) advancing against Assad's regime. The SDF's actions aim to secure Kurdish territories and potentially leverage their position in the conflict, despite concerns over HTS's ties to Turkey and its implications for Kurdish security.