ALEPPO, Syria — Security conditions are deteriorating in the areas controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in eastern Syria's Deir ez-Zor province amid ongoing SDF raids and arrests of civilians. At the same time, SDF officials accuse the Syrian regime of working to turn public sentiment against them.

Journalist Suhaib al-Jaber, based in Hasakah province, told Al-Monitor, “The SDF’s constant raids and arrest campaigns have generated a state of frustration and instability for the people, whose businesses and livelihoods have stopped due to this chaos. The SDF's repressive policy against the peaceful movement also played a part in this frustration.”

Residents in SDF-controlled areas in Deir ez-Zor lack key services amid neglected vital sectors such as education and health, Jaber added.

“Residents accuse the SDF of stealing fuel and failing to spend money on service sectors,” he said. “It seems that neglecting services and not meeting the people’s primary needs is intentional. The largest portions of oil revenues are being allocated to recruiting additional SDF fighters, while people lack the most basic services.”