ISIS sleeper cells head from Syrian desert to east of Euphrates River
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Dozens of militants of the Islamic State (ISIS) sleeper cells joined the gunmen affiliated with the dismissed leader of the Deir ez-Zor Military Council in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria, an exclusive source said on Saturday.
The source told North Press, “The militants plan to target headquarters, vandalize, and escalate the military situation in an attempt to seize control over the region.”
On Aug. 30, the SDF announced the dismissal of commander of Deir ez-Zor Military Council, Ahmad al-Khabil, known as Abu Khawla, from duty, for his involvement “in multiple crimes and violations, including communication and coordination with external entities hostile to the revolution, committing criminal offenses and engaging in drug trafficking, mismanaging of the security situation, his negative role in increasing the activities of ISIS cells,” according to the SDF.
The source stressed that among the ISIS militants who joined the ranks of the armed groups were those who were previously released from SDF prisons after tribal mediation and completing their sentence. The militants were seen carrying weapons in an attempt to resume their past activities.
Eyewitnesses said ISIS militants were wondering in the day time the villages and towns of the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor and headed to the desert for fear of attacks.
On Aug. 27, the SDF launched a military operation called “Security Reinforcement” with the support of the US-led Global Coalition on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River, specifically in Deir ez-Zor, “to eradicate ISIS sleeper cells, pursue criminals responsible for perpetrating injustices against the local population, and to track down smugglers who exploit the populace’s livelihoods.”
The operation led to the eruption of clashes between the SDF and gunmen affiliated with the dismissed leader and with Nawaf al-Bashir, leader of al-Baggara tribe and a pro-Iranian figure whose groups are active in the western bank of the Euphrates which is under the control of the Syrian government forces and Iranian-backed militias.