The main security trend in Deir Ez-Zor governorate during the reference period was the loss of territorial control by SDF and the expansion of transitional government authority in January 2026.954 In the course of the offensive by pro-government forces in January 2026,955 clashes with SDF forces were reported for example in Al-Suwar,956 Abu Hammam, Abu Hardoub, Dhiban and Al-Jardhi. In Al-Shuhail and Dhiban SDF military posts were seized by tribal fighters and SDF defectors even before pro-government forces reached the area.957 Tribal forces captured several settlements and oil fields, including the Omar Oil Field and the Kuniko Gas Field.958
Already in early October 2025, a ceasefire between SDF and the transitional government had been announced.959 However, SDF and government forces clashed in Al-Maariya (south of Deir Ez-Zor city) shortly thereafter.960 During October 2025, incidents involving SDF and government forces along their frontlines in the governorate were reported.961
In the period since the fall of Assad, the Arab tribes in Deir Ez-Zor intermittently had fought the SDF, for example, the Al-Shaytat clan and the Bakara Tribe mobilised against SDF forces in September and October 2025 respectively.962
Clashes between different tribes were also reported during the reference period,963 as were attacks by unidentified gunmen, targeting transitional government forces964 and civilians.965 In March 2026, clashes between groups of local gunmen over the control of oil wells were reported.966
Another trend observed in Deir Ez-Zor governorate were ISIL attacks, which were reported throughout the reference period.967 Between February 2026 and 17 May 2026, SOHR recorded 26 ISIL attacks in government-controlled areas of the governorate. These incidents resulted in 10 deaths, including two civilians, and accounted for the majority of ISIL attacks countrywide during this period.968 In January 2026, the SDF’s rapid withdrawal969 had prevented an organised transfer of counter-ISIL operations,970 but the transitional government sought to address the overall security gap971 by trying to quickly establish police recruitment centres.972 End of February 2026, ISIL announced a ‘new phase of operations’ against the transitional government.973 The group intensified its lone wolf attacks against security forces,974 killing a member of the security forces in Mayadin city in February 2026,975 while an alleged ISIL attack on a security forces checkpoint in March 2026 caused no casualties.976 As for the situation in the year 2025, SOHR documented 209 attacks by ISIL in Deir Ez-Zor governorate, resulting in 75 deaths, including 14 civilians.977 Most ISIL attacks occurring countrywide between June and November 2025 were reported in Deir Ez-Zor, with nearly 70 % of the total ISIL attacks targeting SDF forces.978 Joint US-SDF counter-terrorism efforts against ISIL continued in the governorate with a surge of operations reported in October 2025.979 ISIL was, for example, targeted by US strikes in late December 2025.980
- 954
ISW and CTP, Assessed Control of Terrain in Syria November 10, 2025 at 2:00 PM ET [Map], 10 November 2025, url; ISW and CTP, Assessed Control of Terrain in Syria, February 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET [Map], 16 February 2026, url; Aftandilian, G., The Shrinking Space for Kurdish Autonomy in Syria, Arab Center Washington DC, 26 February 2026, url; MEI, Syria is stabilizing, but US help remains vital, 13 February 2026, url
- 955
Etana Syria, Brief: Raqqa, Deir Ezzor fall to interim authorities, 21 January 2026, url
- 956
SOHR, Deir Ezzor | Three tribal fighters killed in attack on SDF headquarters in Al-Suwar town in northern countryside, 18 January 2026, url
- 957
Etana Syria, Brief: Raqqa, Deir Ezzor fall to interim authorities, 21 January 2026, url
- 958
AA, Syrian tribes largely liberate part of Deir ez-Zor occupied by YPG/SDF terrorists, 18 January 2026, url; DW, Syrian army extends control in north, seizes oil fields, 18 January 2026, url
- 959
Asharq Al-Awsat, Syrian Government Declares Ceasefire After Clashes with Kurdish Fighters , 7 October 2025, url
- 960
ISW and CTP, Iran Update, October 10, 2025, 10 October 2025, url
- 961
SOHR, Drone attack | Member of “SDF” killed and more than ten injured including civilians in Deir Ezzor, 9 October 2025, url; Enab Baladi, Renewed clashes between Syrian army and SDF in Deir Ezzor, 26 October 2025, url; ISW and CTP, Iran Update, October 27, 2025, 27 October 2025, url
- 962
ISW and CTP, Iran Update, January 15, 2026, 15 January 2026, url
- 963
SOHR, Tribal disputes | Armed clashes erupt in eastern Deir Ezzor countryside, 11 May 2026, url; SOHR, Security chaos | Person injured in tribal infighting in Deir Ezzor, 13 January 2026, url; SOHR, Tribal infighting | Clashes erupt between two tribes in eastern Deir Ezzor countryside, 1 January 2026, url; SOHR, Deir Ezzor | Six people killed and injured in tribal infighting, 17 November 2025, url
- 964
SOHR, Terrorist attack | Armed attack leaves security member injured in Deir Ezzor, 8 April 2026, url; SOHR, Believed to be of ISIS cells | Unidentified gunmen shoot dead member of Ministry of Defence in eastern Deir Ezzor, 6 April 2026, url; SOHR, Armed attack | Member of 66th Division seriously injured in Deir Ezzor countryside, 17 March 2026, url; NPA, Two attacks target government forces in Deir ez-Zor, 11 March 2026, url; SOHR, Believed to be of ISIS cells | Unidentified gunmen attack checkpoint of internal security forces in eastern Deir Ezzor, 5 March 2026, url; SOHR, Deir Ezzor | Adjacent attacks launched against security and military positions in Al-Bokamal, 24 February 2026, url
- 965
SOHR, Security chaos | Civilian executed by unidentified gunmen in Deir Ezzor City, 17 December 2025, url; SOHR, Claimed to be members of counter-narcotics service | Unidentified persons attack civilian in Deir Ezzor, 23 October 2025, url
- 966
SOHR, Amid escalating security chaos | Fierce clashes erupt in Deir Ezzor countryside following rivalry over oil wells, 5 March 2026, url
- 967
SOHR, ISIS operations in April | Civilian among four persons killed and others injured in seven attacks in different Syria provinces, 1 May 2026, url; SOHR, Worrying escalation | 15 civilians and combatants killed in 22 attacks carries out by ISIS in different areas across Syria in March, 1 April 2026, url; ISW and CTP, Iran Update, February 27, 2026, 27 February 2026, url; ISW and CTP, Iran Update, February 25, 2026, 25 February 2026, url; Enab Baladi, Islamic State Claims Attack on Government Forces in Deir Ezzor, 20 February 2026, url; ISW and CTP, Iran Update, December 17, 2025, 17 December 2025, url; ISW and CTP, Iran Update, November 3, 2025, 3 November 2025, url
- 968
SOHR, Affected by his injuries | Officer of Defence Ministry dies following attack by ISIS in Deir Ezzor desert, 17 May 2026, url
- 969
ISW and CTP, Iran Update, January 19, 2026, 19 January 2026, url
- 970
ISW and CTP, Iran Update, February 12, 2026, 12 February 2026, url
- 971
ISW and CTP, Iran Update, January 27, 2026, 27 January 2026, url
- 972
Waters, G., The U.S.'s New anti-ISIS Partner in the Northeast, Syria Revisited, 25 January 2026, url
- 973
Reuters, Islamic State claims two attacks on Syrian army, announces ‘new phase’ of operations, 21 February 2026, url
- 974
Asharq Al-Awsat, ISIS Intensifies Lone Wolf Attacks in Syria, 27 February 2026, url
- 975
Reuters, Islamic State claims two attacks on Syrian army, announces ‘new phase’ of operations, 21 February 2026, url
- 976
SOHR, Believed to be of ISIS cells | Unidentified gunmen attack checkpoint of internal security forces in eastern Deir Ezzor, 5 March 2026, url
- 977
SOHR, ISIS attack | Civilian killed in eastern Deir Ezzor, 30 December 2025, url
- 978
UN Security Council, Thirty-seventh report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team submitted pursuant to resolution 2734 (2024) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, S/2026/44, 4 February 2026, url, para. 54
- 979
UN Human Rights Council, Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, A/HRC/61/62, 12 March 2026, url, para. 22
- 980
ISW and CTP, Iran Update, December 30, 2025, 30 December 2025, url; DW, Syria: US launches airstrikes on IS targets after attack, 20 December 2025, url