Hassan HassanVerified account

On the other bank, Ishara seems to have also been liberated from Islamic State. The area was resisting order by IS to disarm till days ago

Important caveat about these moves: they're done by poorly-armed civilians since most fighters from that region chose to go to Qalamoun etc.

They had the choice of handing over their weapons or joining frontlines in Qalamoun & Ghouta near Damascus. Some went to Deraa with Nusra.

Rumours are rife now about what's happening in Deir Ezzor against Islamic State. Next is details from reliable Omar Abu Layla >>

20 well-armed vehicles & 4 tanks belonging to Islamic State withdraw from the air base (near Deir Ezzor city) heading towards the hotspots 1

The hotspots in Deir Ezzor's eastern countryside, Iraq side. Mobilization of anti-IS rebels in Mehghan & Ishara, complete with snipers.

Mobilization comes after an anti-IS protest in Ishara. Ambulances belonging to IS were seen driving fast, supposedly carrying IS victims.

What's worrying most in Deir Ezzor is that so many people hate "oil merchants" more than they hate ISIS. That says a lot.

Two key words in the Syrian uprising, and perhaps in its outcome: tijjar al-naft (oil merchants) & kata'ib haramiya (Thieves Brigades).

Tijjar al-naft, for Deir Ezzor and other oil areas; kata'ib haramiya everywhere. One reason for the rise of Islamists first, then jihadists.