Local reporters said the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) carried out a series of raids and arrests across Deir Ezzor province and parts of Hasakah this week, detaining dozens of civilians accused of supporting the “Deir al-Ezz” campaign—which is a local initiative raising funds for the province’s reconstruction—akin to the national Syrian Development Fund.
Local outlets described operations in Junaynah, Jadid Akidat, Shuhail and Gharanij that included house searches and seizures with some detainees taken to undisclosed locations. According to the outlets the SDF declined to issue public statements about the actions.
In Hasakah city, authorities arrested three money-exchange owners—Ghaith al-Dhamin, Abdullah al-Salem and Munir al-Qadi—on allegations they transferred funds to support the campaign, according to Nahar Media. Journalists also reported the detention of Saeed al-Ali after security forces raided his workplace in the Tal Hajar neighborhood.
Human Rights Groups Document Arbitrary Detention
Human-rights monitors have reported a steady rise in arbitrary detentions in areas under SDF control. The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) said its August report documented 36 cases of arbitrary detention, including five children, and noted that Raqqa, Deir Ezzor and Hasakah recorded the highest numbers of arrests that month. The group added that SDF detention centers hold more detainees than are released, citing arrests tied to criticism of SDF policies and alleged forced conscription operations.
Observers say many arrests follow the symbolic raising of the Syrian national flag or social media posts supportive of Damascus, even after the Autonomous Administration announced it would adopt the “revolutionary flag” in official institutions. Activists say the change in policy has done little to stop prosecutions for displaying the flag or possessing images of Syria’s President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
Tribal Clashes Widen Local Unrest
Tensions between Arab clans and the SDF flared following recent arrests and deaths which have deepened mistrust. Residents of Granij accused SDF patrols of killing a young man and withholding his body, prompting calls by the Al-Shaitat clan for a “general call” against the SDF.
Tribal notables across Deir Ezzor and parts of Raqqa have issued statements urging fighters to confront SDF presence and to defect, raising fears of further escalation. The SDF and its internal security arm, Asayish, reported that “unknown gunmen” attacked checkpoints in Deir Ezzor, underscoring how insecurity and reprisal cycles complicate daily life in the region.
Civilians Continue to Suffer Consequences
Local civil-society actors and reconstruction initiatives risk derailment as security operations and clan confrontations sap public confidence. Campaigns to raise funds for rebuilding—including the “Deir al-Ezz” drive that organizers say collected significant donations—face obstacles when residents fear arrest for public displays of national solidarity. Human-rights groups and activists called on the SDF to publish clear arrest records and to allow access by independent monitors to detention sites to reduce abuses and restore trust.
