On the fifth anniversary of the Al-Baghouz victory against the Islamic State (ISIS), the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) criticised the Turkish state’s attacks on its territories, accusing them of offering a refuge for ISIS elements to regroup and launch further attacks, thus obstructing the total elimination of ISIS.
On Saturday, the Kurdish-led SDF issued a statement commemorating the significant victory in Al-Baghouz, eastern Deir ez-Zor (Derezor), near the border with Iraq in Syria, which marked the end of ISIS’s so-called caliphate, a victory achieved through the valiant efforts of the Kurdish-led SDF and the support of the international coalition.
We commemorate the historic victory of Syrian Democratic Forces, with support of Global Coalition over the terrorist organization in its last stronghold in Baghuz in 2019.
We remember our forces' courage who showed a saga of sacrifice and heroism.
We pay tribute to our martyrs,…— Mazloum Abdî مظلوم عبدي (@MazloumAbdi) March 23, 2024
The SDF paid tribute to the fallen fighters whose sacrifices made this victory possible, and affirmed their resilience in continuing to battle against the extremist group’s remnants. “Our forces waged a historic resistance against the most extremist terrorist organisation in recent history,” stated the SDF General Command.
Despite the liberation of Al-Baghouz, the SDF warns that ISIS still poses a significant threat through its sleeper cells, attempting to revive its control in certain areas. The SDF underscored their ongoing military and security operations with the aim of dismantling these cells, and emphasised the need for a collective international effort to not only combat ISIS militarily but also to counter its ideological influence.
The statement called for broad international participation in reconstruction efforts and a global solution for ISIS detainees, suggesting the repatriation of nationals or the establishment of an international court for fair trials. Additionally, the SDF highlighted the precarious situation in al-Hol camp, underlining the urgent need to address the camp’s conditions and the radicalisation of children there.
The SDF also criticised the Turkish state’s attacks on its areas, accusing them of providing a safe haven for ISIS elements to rebuild and launch attacks, thereby hindering the complete eradication of ISIS. “The lasting defeat of ISIS necessitates effective international cooperation,” the SDF concluded, dedicating the victory to its martyrs and calling on all parties concerned with defeating terrorism to increase their engagement in this crucial fight for lasting security and peace.
