Just one day after the deadly armed attack on a tribal elder in Deir ez-Zor, there has been another attack on one of the leading figures in eastern Syria. Ali al-Weiss, mayor of the town of Dahlah east of Deir ez-Zor, was shot dead by unknown persons. The politician, who was also the head of a family association in the region, was on his way to the mosque to deliver the Friday sermon when he was the victim of the deadly attack.

In response to the attack, Asayish (public security) has reinforced security measures in the Deir ez-Zor area. The internal security forces have not yet commented on the investigations that have been initiated. However, ISIS militiamen are suspected to be the perpetrators.

In the autonomous regions of Eastern Syria, there have been targeted attacks against politicians and leaders close to the autonomous administration for months. On June 15, the mayor of the town of al-Tayyana was assassinated. Four masked persons stormed the town hall and executed Sakkat Khleif al-Musa with four shots to the head. Only one day later, Hamoud al-Mustafa, an employee of the al-Shihel People's Council, was found dead. The man was killed with one shot to the head.

In early June, Arab civilian Hamid Mohammed al-Dhaif, head of a self-governing village in Deir ez-Zor, was shot dead by unknown persons.

In late May, unidentified persons attempted to kill Deir ez-Zor Regional President of the Syrian Future Party, Hezifa al-Ahmed. Al-Ahmed was seriously injured in the attack.

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