United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed Thursday his concern about increasing indicators warning of further fragmentation in the years-long war in Syria, calling for dialogue to avoid a “new catastrophic dimension” to the conflict.

A statement by Turk said that the clashes that broke out in Deir ez-Zor Governorate in late August resulted in the killing of at least 23 civilians.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said, “The indicators that warn of the fragmentation of the conflict in Syria are very worrying.”

He continued, "We can never be satisfied with watching the country slide further and further into an endless conflict, a conflict that has already left indelible scars on the lives of many civilians."

The clashes broke out on August 27 after the Syrian Democratic Forces arrested Ahmed Al-Khubail, known as “Abu Khawla,” the leader of its Deir ez-Zor Military Council. It later announced his dismissal, accusing him of involvement in “criminal crimes, drug trafficking, and mismanagement of the security situation,” and of communicating with the regime.

This prompted fighters loyal to Al-Khubail to carry out attacks that quickly developed into clashes in a number of villages and towns, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Last week, the Observatory reported that 90 people were killed in violence, the majority of them fighters.
Turk said that in addition to the 23 civilian deaths, the Syrian Democratic Forces arrested dozens of people “for their alleged involvement in hostilities,” and noted that “as a result, thousands of civilians fled their homes.”

He stressed that "the attacks affected populated areas, including camps for the displaced, markets, water treatment facilities, and health centers," adding, "The curfew and roadblocks also undermined freedom of movement and raised the prices of food and fuel."

He pointed out that the conflict was initially confined to Deir ez-Zor, but it soon spread to Al-Hasakah and the eastern countryside of Aleppo, and other armed groups became involved.

The UN High Commissioner continued, "I express my deep concern about other parties exploiting the tensions and hostilities in Deir ez-Zor and the neighborhood, in an attempt to extend their authority over the region."

He added, "All parties concerned with this latest escalation must immediately end the clashes and work to resolve differences through dialogue, with the aim of avoiding launching a new catastrophic dimension to the conflict in Syria."
The war in Syria claimed the lives of about 500,000 people, left millions displaced and refugees, and destroyed the country's infrastructure and industries.

The conflict began with popular protests that were suppressed by the regime, and branched out with the involvement of external parties, armed men, and jihadist organizations.

In recent years, there has been calm on the front lines, but vast parts of the north of the country are still outside government control.