Reuters has reported that ISIS mercenaries are taking advantage of the chaos in Syria, and that the group has begun reactivating its fighters in both Iraq and Syria, identifying targets, attempting major attacks, distributing weapons, and intensifying recruitment and propaganda campaigns. A U.S. official confirmed that Baghdad has informally requested a slowdown in the withdrawal of approximately 2,500 American troops from Iraq, following indications that the Assad regime is on the verge of collapse.
The report noted that leaders from the Middle East and Western allies have warned that ISIS may seize the opportunity created by Assad's fall to reemerge in Syria and Iraq, where it had previously imposed a reign of terror over millions.
Reuters based its report on more than 20 sources—including security and political officials from Syria, Iraq, the United States, and Europe, as well as regional diplomats—who concluded that ISIS has indeed begun reactivating its fighters in both countries, identifying targets, distributing weapons, and increasing its recruitment and propaganda efforts.
The report added that while these actions seem limited in impact for now, security officials in Iraq and Syria who have been monitoring ISIS for years confirmed that at least 12 major plots have been thwarted this year.
The report quoted Colonel Abdul Amir Al-Bayati of the Iraqi Army’s 8th Division as saying, “ISIS elements have started resuming their activity after years of dormancy, taking advantage of the chaos in Syria.”
Although the report noted that the officials interviewed by Reuters do not believe ISIS poses the same level of threat as it once did, they warned against completely dismissing the risk, describing ISIS as a resilient enemy skilled at exploiting power vacuums.
While coalition forces are expected to conclude their operations in Iraq by September, the report quoted a second U.S. official as saying that Baghdad has informally asked to delay the withdrawal of around 2,500 American troops, after realizing that the Assad regime is collapsing.
According to the report, three security sources and three Syrian political officials stated that since Assad’s fall, ISIS has reactivated its sleeper cells, surveilled potential targets, and distributed weapons, silencers, and explosives. It has also transferred fighters from the Syrian desert to cities like Aleppo, Homs, and Damascus.
The report also quoted Iraqi security adviser Ali Al-Saadi, who said that aerial surveillance and on-the-ground intelligence have detected increasing ISIS activity in the northern Hamrin Mountains—a historic hideout for the group—as well as on key transport routes. Iraqi officials believe ISIS has seized large quantities of weapons abandoned by Assad’s forces and fear that some of them may be smuggled into Iraq.
a.k
ANHA
