Rojava Information Centre (RIC), a monitoring group based in northern Syria, has reported an increase in ISIS activity in North and East Syria.
Increased sleeper cell activity
According to RIC, ISIS sleeper cell attacks increased from 18 in July to 21 in August, killing three, including two civilians. ISIS targeted oil company operations, investors and members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Syrian and Iranian-linked militia groups also carried out attacks during August, leading to clashes in the city of Deir ez-Zor (Dêrazor). ISIS has since taken advantage of the resultant instability to increase activity.
Early in the month, the SDF arrested seven suspected ISIS operatives who were reportedly planning an attack from al-Hol refugee camp, located 45 km east of al-Hasakah (Hesekê) where the families of ISIS members have been resettled. The camp is home to nearly 60,000 people.
A member of the internal security forces, the Asayish, told RIC during a recent visit to al-Hol that the security situation in the camp and the activities of sleeper cells were “imminent threats”.
SDF fight back
The SDF responded by mounting 11 raids during August, which led to the capture of 28 ISIS members. Three ISIS fighters were killed during the SDF operations. These included one group leader who the SDF said was responsible for the 2022 al-Sina’a Prison breakout which killed 77 prison guards, four civilians and 40 SDF troops in al-Hasakah.
The SDF also arrested an ISIS member who was reportedly planning to target a US base in the region.
Increased attacks in Deir ez-Zor
ISIS remains increasingly active in the Deir ez-Zor area, despite SDF liberating the last ISIS foothold in the region at Baghouz in 2019.
RIC pointed out that the ISIS operative who was responsible for the group’s August attack in Solingen, Germany was from Deir ez-Zor. The incident claimed the lives of three people, while eight people sustained injuries.
Militias connected to the government of Iran and to the Syrian regime launched an offensive on August 6 against the SDF in Deir ez-Zor, which lasted for three weeks. Eleven civilians, including five children, were killed by these militias as a result of the shelling of al-Dahla and Jadeed Bakara villages. Many fled their homes.
The situation in Deir ez-Zor remains tense, despite an agreement between representatives of the SDF, the government of Syria and Russia to end the hostilities.
“Long-term instability in Deir ez-Zor risks a sleeper cell activity spike… ISIS has previously attempted to exploit clashes in Deir ez-Zor to conduct covert sleeper cell attacks,” the RIC warned.
ISIS sleeper cells carried out multiple attacks throughout August in the Deir ez-Zor region. These included an attack on an oil investor from Takihi village, who had resisted the group’s attempts to extort money from him.
ISIS has increasingly resorted to demanding taxes (zakat – a form of almsgiving and one of the five pillars of Islam) from Deir ez-Zor residents and threatening violence to those who refuse.
On 16 August, ISIS attacked another oil investor in al-Busayrah, Deir ez-Zor, injuring one woman. The group targeted oil tankers in the region on 15, 17 and 27 August.
To read the full report on the RIC website click here.
