DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria / ANKARA 

Anadolu has captured images of the demolition of key bridges and crossings spanning the Euphrates River in Deir ez-Zor, a city in eastern Syria devastated by intense regime attacks during the country's 13-year civil war. 

As a result of the separate bombardment of forces loyal to the now-toppled Bashar Assad regime and US-led coalition against the Daesh/ISIS terror group, the bridges, crossings, and many of the buildings in Deir ez-Zor have been completely destroyed.

The extent of the destruction in the still-rubble-littered city has come to light after anti-regime forces took control of the city following the collapse of the Assad regime earlier this month. 

With the bridges connecting the eastern and western banks of the Euphrates, including Deir ez-Zor's historic suspension bridge, in ruins, locals have had to use ferries and boats to cross the river separating the city center with rural areas to the northeast.   

Lifelines cut off

Wasim al-Ahmad, a resident of Deir ez-Zor, explained to Anadolu that the historic suspension bridge, also known as the Al-Muallaq Bridge, was a crucial connection between the city and its rural outskirts. 

Once enabling pedestrians to cross with ease, it is now entirely unusable after being targeted in an attack by coalition forces. 

"Deir ez-Zor's lifelines have been cut off. This part of the city is completely isolated. It is almost impossible to cross to the other side,” al-Ahmad stated.

He added that several other bridges, once used daily by residents, were bombed by regime forces. "Thus, Deir ez-Zor's two sides have been completely isolated from each other. These events happened years ago, but their effects are still felt."  

Lives disrupted

Munir Sa'ir al-Maydan, who lives in rural Deir ez-Zor province, highlighted problems that the bridges' destruction caused for the local population.

Transportation has been particularly hard-hit, as it is no longer possible to cross from one side of the Euphrates to the other within the same day, according to Maydan.

He said that in the past, residents could easily cross on foot or by motorcycle without even needing a car.

"Now, due to the destruction of the bridges, we can’t cross at all. We are limited to ferries. This is a serious problem for us, the locals," he said.

Calling for urgent action to rebuild the bridges, he stated: "We need a long-term solution because this problem is affecting our daily lives."

Bashar Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party’s regime, which had been in power since 1963.

The takeover came after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham fighters captured key cities in a lightning offensive that lasted less than two weeks. Anti-regime fighters claimed control of Dier ez-Zor city center on Dec. 11.