On February 24, gunmen believed to be members of ISIS attacked a vehicle of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) near the town of Hajin in the southeastern countryside of Syria’s Deir Ezzor.

The gunmen opened fire from their assault rifles at the vehicle as it was passing on a road linking the village of al-Bahra al-Sharqi with Hajin.

According to London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the attack claimed the lives of three personnel from the SDF’s Military Police.

The attack took place just a few kilometers away from al-Omar oil fields where a large, heavily-armed force of the US-led coalition is situated. Despite this, coalition forces didn’t intervene to pursue the perpetrators, who were able to escape with much ease.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, yet. However, ISIS remains the main suspect. The terrorist group’s cells are known to be highly active in this part of Deir Ezzor.

The deadly attack is another example of the poor security situation in SDF-held areas in northeastern Syria. The situation in the region has been causing much concern to Damascus, as well as to neighboring Iraq. Baghdad’s National Security Advisor voiced his concern over the SDF’s ability to secure the region during a recent meeting of the the Russia–Syria–Iran–Iraq coalition.

Source: South Front