By Samah Abdul Fattah | 2024-05-23

Militias controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are obstructing tribal reconciliation efforts in areas of Deir Ezzor they control, with the aim of keeping them in a constant state of tension, activists say.

Deir Ezzor tribes and clans are regularly embroiled in disputes of various kinds, Albu Kamal media activist Ayham al-Ali told Al-Fassel.

These disputes are customarily resolved via a reconciliation session in the presence of notables and elders from both sides, he explained, where they reach agreement without the involvement of the courts or government.

Some time ago, an old vendetta between the al-Satam and Hussein al-Ali families resurfaced, "which led to violent [and deadly] armed clashes in several areas of eastern Deir Ezzor and Albu Kamal," he said.

The IRGC-controlled militias blocked a reconciliation session between the two sides at the beginning of May under the pretext that they had not obtained prior approval from security authorities for the gathering, he said.

This prevented the two sides from resolving their disagreement and led to continued tension between the families.

This has happened before, al-Ali said, and sometimes approval comes on condition that representatives of the militias be present during the session to give the impression that they are sponsoring the reconciliation.

"The militias use this tactic to keep the situation tense in the region, so as to tighten their control and ramp up pressure on civilians to force them to either leave the region and sell their property at low prices or join their ranks," he said.

Imposed hardships on civilians

The militias have taken various measures to keep the civilian population under their control, Deir Ezzor activist Jamil al-Abed told Al-Fassel.

These include harassment and restriction of people's movements and access to their land, thereby eliminating their sources of income, he said.

This leaves area residents with a difficult choice, he explained. They can either join these militias, or flee the area and sell their properties at a loss.

Meanwhile, the militias make no effort to secure the region, where local tribes are heavily armed and conflicts often arise.

"With the multiplicity of emergent and existing disputes, any squabble between two sides could turn into armed clashes between them," he said.

"The militias stand by and watch without intervening."

The militias also are working to effect "a major demographic change in the region" by bringing in their own families and settling them in Syria, he added.