Deir ez-Zor Civil Council (DFNS)

 local government council, draw only border, do not draw title, autonomous administrative region

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Deir ez-Zor Civil Council (Arabic: مجلس دير الزور المدني, Kurdish: Encumena Sivîl a Dêra Zorê) is a civil council located north of the Euphrates and the government-held city of Deir ez-Zor. It is a part of the de facto autonomous region Democratic Federation of Northern Syria (DFNS).

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have advanced quickly after launching operation Jazeera storm that started on Sunday 10 September 2017 and on Monday 11 September 2017 they announced preparations for a Civil Council to manage Deir az-Zor countryside after it’s liberation.

A group of elders and tribal leaders have set up a preparatory committee to prepare for the establishment of a Deir az-Zor Civil Council for administering the city after it’s liberation, following the model of Civil Councils established for Raqqa, Manbij and Tal Abyad.

“We in the preparatory committee, as well as the dignitaries of the Deir az-Zor tribes, declare our support for the Jazeera storm operation and the Syrian Democratic Forces, and we consider the legitimate force to carry out our dreams of liberation and to return the displaced people to their homes,” the committee said.

“We also call upon the young people of the countryside and villages of Deir az-Zor to take part and join the Syrian Democratic Forces and participate in the honor of fighting for our country,” the committee said.

The committee also called on the heads of the tribes to support the SDF forces.

Although the committee is preparing to set up a council for Deir az-Zor countryside, its unlikely that such a council would also play a role in the areas liberated from ISIS by the Syrian regime. Both the Syrian Arab Army and the SDF are approaching Deir ez-Zour province to defeat IS in one of its last strongholds.

The Russians and the Americans are also playing their party by trying to prevent conflicts between the two, in order to keep the fight focused on ISIS.

Nevertheless, the SDF has also sought to focus on reconstruction efforts. It is believed that the council which will manage the towns and villages liberated from ISIS by the SDF forces in Deir az-Zor’s countryside follow the Raqqa Civil Council model. In Raqqa, civilian councils manage villages and towns like Tabqah in the countryside of Raqqa, while doing the preparatory work for an eventual return to the city of Raqqa after its liberation. It is hoped by the SDF could follow the same practices in Deir ez-Zor as well.