At least nine people were killed in clashes on Tuesday between fighters from Arab tribes and US-backed Syrian Kurds in eastern Syria, according to reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and activists.
The clashes in the countryside of Deir ez-Zur escalated tensions between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by the Kurds, and Arab tribes that had previously fought alongside the SDF against ISIS militants.
The Syrian Observatory stated that at least six fighters from Arab tribes and three fighters from the Syrian Forces were killed in the village of Al-Harijah in northern Deir ez-Zur.
It was reported that fighters from Arab tribes launched an attack on checkpoints belonging to the Syrian Forces in the area using heavy weaponry.
The clashes erupted after the Syrian Forces arrested Ahmed al-Khabil, known as Abu Khula, who belongs to one of the tribes and heads the military council of Deir ez-Zur in Hasakah.
He was detained along with some of his supporters from the Arab tribes.
While the Syrian Forces have not confirmed his arrest, Kurdish activists told the German news agency dpa that Abu Khula is suspected of spying on the Syrian Forces for the benefit of Turkey and the Syrian government.
On Sunday, the Observatory also reported that elements of the Kurdish internal police force known as the Asayish stormed the offices of the news network Baz News, detaining five journalists, including the network's chief.
It was mentioned that Abu Khula partially funds the network.
US forces were deployed in Syria in 2015 to assist Syrian Kurds and their allies in the fight against ISIS.
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