Two captured ISIS militants have disclosed Turkey’s role in providing equipment, medical treatment and support to the group through multiple border regions of North and East Syria, including Aleppo, Azaz, Tal Abyad and Ain Issa.
The revelations emerged from interrogations following Operation Lasting Security, a week-long campaign launched on 6 November by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Internal Security Forces and Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) at al-Hol camp, which resulted in 79 arrests and the discovery of weapons caches and tunnels.
“All the equipment was reaching us through the areas of Aleppo, Azaz, Tal Abyad and Ain Issa, from Turkey, even the wounded ISIS were transferred to Turkish hospitals for treatment,” said Barq Fawaz Suhail, a captured ISIS media operative. He cited the case of an Iraqi militant named Abu Farouk al-Ansari who received treatment in Turkey before returning to ISIS.
Another detainee, Hussein Hanoush Khalaf al-Ubaidi, who managed ISIS family payments, confirmed receiving funds through Turkish-controlled territories. Both militants acknowledged ongoing ISIS attempts to reorganise inside and outside al-Hol camp.
Tribal leaders from the Jazira Canton of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) endorsed the security operation as essential. “The operation’s timing was excellent given the increased ISIS movement and terror attacks,” said Sheikh Hussein Al-Abraz, the Heseke representative of the Al-Igeidat tribe.
The operation, supported by the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, covered over 200 villages across 70 kilometres from the Iraqi-Syrian border, though it faced delays due to what the SDF described as Turkish interference.
