According to the Ahlul Bayt International News Agency, with the increase in the movements of ISIS-affiliated cells in areas controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), concerns about the terrorist group’s return to the military scene in northeastern Syria have intensified.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, since the beginning of this year, ISIS has carried out 71 operations in different areas of the region, mainly including armed attacks, explosions and assassinations. According to the report, these operations have resulted in the deaths of 28 people, including 18 SDF forces, 5 civilians and 5 ISIS members. The main focus of these attacks is in Deir Ezzor province with 59 cases reported, followed by Hasakah and Raqqa provinces; an issue that once again shows that ISIS is trying to restore the border areas with Iraq as its operational base.
In response to these threats, the SDF, in cooperation with the US-led international coalition, has launched a wide-ranging security operation. These operations have led to the arrest of several suspects, including two senior ISIS commanders and more than 20 suspects in the al-Hol camp.
However, the announcement of the US decision to reduce its forces in Syria by half and evacuate three key bases in strategic areas has raised concerns about a security vacuum, especially as ISIS activity in these areas has reached its peak. Analysts say the reduction in forces could create an environment for ISIS to re-emerge.
Security experts believe that with political tensions between the SDF and the Golan Heights government, any security gap or military vacuum could be quickly exploited by ISIS, which could once again threaten the fragile stability of northeastern Syria.
