Didn’t the SDF just retreat from Deir ez-Zor, initially taking it after the SAA abandoned their positions there, because the people of Deir ez-Zor did not want to be under their governance, and want to be under the governance of whoever controls Damascus? There were mass protests against them in the city

it’s difficult to gauge the ‘consent’ in like a week of actually being there, some people protested but did they represent a majority opinion? who knows. the big reason to retreat was israel destroying the leftover SAA defenses so they’d be fucked when the FSA? or whoever show up, whereas they’ve got an established and intact defensive line on the other side of the river.

incidentally israel blowing SAA equipment in SDF or recently occupied SDF territory is a strong indication israel is not actually considering the SDF an ally or proxy