Fighting between the IS and Sunni Tribe in Dayr ez-Zour

For the better part of the ten days, the Islamic State has been fighting Sunni tribesman in the eastern Syrian province of Dayr ez-Zour. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the fighting started after the IS detained three members of the tribe despite of an earlier agreement between the two parties. 

Post by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Since then, the two parties have been locked in bitter combat with each other. The video above details just how fierce the fighting is--and how much of a fight the tribe seems to be putting up. In should be noted that despite IS actions to stop the fighting (shown below), the fighting shows no signs of abating. 

The IS has been detaining and killing members of the tribe in very brutal ways. This is probably meant as a message to those tribesmen continuing to fight them. The IS is probably hoping to make an example of these individuals by killing them in vicious ways. Some of the cleaner pictures show that IS shows no regard to the age of those fighters currently locked in combat against them and shows the same level of brutality to the youth as they do the mature. Here is a tweet that allegedly shows the IS crucifying a young member of the tribe. 

#IS crucify She'etat youth on suspicion of fighting them. #Syria pic.twitter.com/xlBYRGvdn5

— The Iraqi Witness (@_IraqiWitness) August 7, 2014

Crucifixions are just the beginning, though. There are other pictures showing beheadings and mass executions, including young members like shown above, that are just too graphic to share here. You can, however, view these photos at your own will on the page of @_iraqiwitness. 

Like I said above, the fighting shows no signs of abating. From just under ten hours ago, the same twitter page tweeted about a car bomb going off in the She'etat area. 

Reports on another carbomb in the She'etat area. Possible 3rd suicide attack. #Syria

— The Iraqi Witness (@_IraqiWitness) August 9, 2014

The IS has allegedly withdrawn from a few villages controlled by the tribe, but it is unconfirmed as to whether or not the IS has came back. However, this fighting shows that the IS has begun to alienate the Sunni tribes that were once on its side. When youbehead members of the same sect you belong to, it stands to reason that you will not make any friends by doing so. 

If this tribe can put up a good enough fight against the IS, it could potentially inspire a larger revolt, similar to the sahwat movement in Iraq, to oust IS from the various towns and villages they control. According to the Wall Street Journal, this could already be happening in Iraq. Apparently, several Sunni tribal elders have requested help in organizing new, "grassroot movements to counter [IS]". From the video posted above, it looks like the She'etat tribe is fairly able to hold its own. If this counter-attack materializes into a larger movement, the IS will probably have to transfer or otherwise move forces from elsewhere to counter the tribes. Something like this should be exploited by those who wish to see IS fail. 

One thing is for sure though, the more IS alienates and angers its once allies, the more ground they will (hopefully) begin to lose. 

-- Caleb

UPDATE:
According to @hxhassan, the Assad regime has been dropping leaflets notifying the She'etat tribe of their support. Not only that, but they are allegedly bombing IS positions to support the tribe. If true, the much needed air support and cover could help the tribe in their fight against IS.

After news of Syrian regime helicopters dropping leaflets of support to Shai'tat tribe, reports say helicopters are bombing IS targets there

— Hassan Hassan حسن (@hxhassan) August 9, 2014

UPDATE 2: 
The account @_iraqiwitness has since been deactivated. I'm sorry you cannot actually see his tweets, but you can still read what it said. 

UPDATE 3:
Multiple twitter accounts are reporting that the IS plans on committing mass killings of the She'etat tribe in retribution for the rebellion and to make an example out of them. Below is one such tweet. I will also post the cleanest picture I can that came out of a video posted today showing some of these killings. For now, the video is on YouTube but I expect it to be taken down soon. 

ISIS plans on killing more than 10 000 muslims in Deir Ezzor area just for the sake of their "state". May Allah deal with them #IS

— Jihad News (@JihadNews2) August 13, 2014

Reciting the Shahadah moments before being slaughtered by ISIS criminals in Deir Ezzor. pic.twitter.com/iaNpXudwbp

— Jihad News (@JihadNews2) August 14, 2014

UPDATE 4:
The fighting largely seems to be over with the IS massacring around700 tribesmen according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.