What are the factors that help ISIS continue its attacks?

Two years ago, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continue their security operations in combating cells in the geographical area connecting the southern countryside of Al-Hasakah to the Euphrates River in the north and east of Deir Ezzor, so what contributes from time to time to the escalation of cell movements there?

18 April, 2021 02:38

NEWS DESK - AHMED MOHAMMED

Despite the elimination of the Syrian Democratic Forces, on March 23, 2019, on the last strongholds of ISIS mercenaries geographically in north and east Syria in Al-Baghouz area, multi-linked cells under the guise of ISIS are still moving in different areas of north and east Syria, and specifically in the southeastern countryside of Al-Hasakah city, and the northern and eastern suburbs of Deir Ezzor.

The escalation of these cells' movement is concentrated from the town of Al-Shaddadeh to the town of Dashisha and Markada in the southern and southeastern countryside of the city of Hasakah in eastern Syria, through the town of Al-Sor and Al-Ezbah area, up to the Euphrates River north and east of Deir Ezzor, along the river towards the Syrian-Iraqi border, at Al-Baghouz town.

These areas are the last areas liberated by SDF from ISIS mercenaries, between 2018 and 2019, during their military operations against ISIS, the last of which was Al-Jazira Storm campaign.

Since its liberation, the region has witnessed killings and intimidation committed against clans' notables and community prominent figures in the region, as well as assassinations of workers in civil administrations, whether in Al-Hasakah or Deir Ezzor, and targeting operations of the Syrian Democratic Forces' presence and movements in the region.

These moves have always prompted SDF to carry out large-scale security operations in the region, in addition to the continuation to carry out specific operations targeting cell officials, based on intelligence information, the last of which was its security operations that began on Wednesday morning in Wadi Al-Ajej.

On February 8^th this year, the Commander of the US Central Command, General Kenneth McKenzie, stressed to the Middle East Institute conference the need for continued vigilance, enhanced cooperation and support for local partners to defeat ISIS and prevent the revival of its extremist ideas.

And no longer goes a night without incidents and targeting operations in those areas, despite the intense movements of the Internal Security Forces' patrols, as well as of the Syrian Democratic Forces to reduce these incidents, so what drives the activity of these cells in this way, and from where do they derive their support.

The forms of cells vary in terms of tasks and connections in those areas, and they are not limited to cells affiliated with ISIS only, but there are cells linked to the Damascus government and a regional state loyal to it, others linked to the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries, and others spread in the form of bandits under the name of "ISIS."

In view of the movements of these cells, the reasons and factors that push the cells to revive in the geography we are talking about differ, which affect the inability of the security forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces to impose their security grip on them. The first is the vast desert geography of this region, which ensures the ease of movement of cells, especially ISIS cells which turned to hiding in the desert, "Al-Rawda desert and the Syrian Badia."

In addition, the cells benefit in their movement and activity in those areas from the long desert borders that connect the Syrian lands with Iraq, as the Syrian and Iraqi lands combine desert borders with a length of approximately more than 600 km.

The cells also benefit from the Anbar desert, in which ISIS is intensively active, and crimes are committed on Syrian and Iraqi sides, starting from that desert, taking advantage of the security gaps along those borders.

Likewise, the borders separating the Autonomous Administration areas, the Damascus government forces and its militias on the eastern and western sides of Deir Ezzor, and the illegal crossings along the eastern and western banks of Euphrates River between the two sides give the opportunity for the cells to reach the areas of north and east Syria and escalate their activity.

The Member of the General Command of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Newroz Ahmed, indicated in a previous statement to our agency that there are security gaps on the borders of their areas, and that their forces are working to enable the common borders with neighboring parties, especially Iraq, and the areas separating their areas from those of the Damascus government forces, and their areas and areas occupied by the Turkish occupation army.

As for the other two factors, they are: first, the difficult living conditions of the residents of those areas that facilitate the process of cell recruitment for their residents, and secondly, the existence of a popular incubator for the ideas and policies of those cells, whether extremist ISIS or those seeking to achieve other goals, foremost of which are "Turkey, the government of Damascus and its militias."

For example, ISIS declared itself in 2014 under the cloak of Islam, so that it could quickly control the region in Syria and Iraq, inhabited by the majority of Muslims, and despite its distance from true Islam, it was able to control vast areas in the two countries within a very short period of time, and attracted tens of thousands of young people to its areas of control.

The lack of advanced military technology for the security authorities in north and east Syria, especially the Syrian Democratic Forces, is one of the biggest factors that make it difficult for their tasks to limit the escalation of the movements of these cells.

In view of this huge number of factors that drive the return of ISIS and contribute to the escalation of cell movement in north and east Syria, SDF need more logistical and military support, and more international pressure on the parties aiming to target the security and stability of the region "Turkey and the Damascus government."

The region also needs political recognition of the model of government there "Autonomous Administration," as well as the military and logistical support for its military forces to bring the region to safety.

D.H

ANHA

What are the factors that help ISIS continue its attacks?

These areas are the last areas liberated by SDF from ISIS mercenaries, between 2018 and 2019, during their military operations against ISIS, the last of which was Al-Jazira Storm campaign.