By Ihsan Muhammad
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – The issue of the presence of militants affiliated with the Islamic State group (ISIS) in the countryside of Daraa, southern Syria, was brought to light once again after over five years of the Syrian government forces’ control over the area.
The security authorities of the government take advantage of every incident to tighten their grip on the area. Activists and local armed groups believe, however, that the government’s security apparatuses puppeteer certain individuals known for their affiliation with ISIS.
Using ISIS
Muhammad al-Khatib, a pseudonym for a member of a local armed group in Daraa, told North Press that the security branches of the government forces exploit fabricated explosions in certain areas to claim they fight ISIS.
He added that the government is manipulating people’s emotions, particularly its supporters, by spreading fear of the dangers of terrorism and ISIS.
The majority of these explosions occurred in what are considered to be “security” areas that were previously not controlled by the Syrian opposition, such as Daraa al-Balad in the city center. This indicates that their perpetrators passed through checkpoints of the government forces, according to al-Khatib.
He believes that what truly protected Daraa from ISIS militants is its residents’ awareness of the danger of radical and extremist ideologies, and not the presence of the government forces.
He referred to the events that unfolded in the city of Jassem in the north of Daraa in early December, when the government forces left the city’s residents alone to face ISIS. However, they managed to eliminate the ISIS cell and kill their leader.
Daraa also witnessed battles between local groups and ISIS, starting in Jassem, then extending to the outskirts of the city of Tafas, followed by Daraa al-Balad, and finally in the city of al-Hirak on Nov. 26.
Covert co-operation
Ossama al-Mikdad, a local media activists, believes that there is a covert collaboration between ISIS militants and the government’s security apparatuses. They facilitate the movement of militants without hindrance by providing them security cards.
He said that in the recent battle in Daraa al-Balad, where local armed groups successfully eliminated a group of ISIS militants, they found security cards issued by the Air Force Intelligence and Military Intelligence branches with them.
While ISIS does not hold any areas of control in Daraa, al-Mikdad asserts that they operate covertly and carry out assassinations against activists and local military personnel under the directives of the security branches.
Al-Mikadad explained that the government forces facilitated the means for ISIS militants to target leaders of the armed local groups and used them as an excuse to launch military and security operations in the area under the pretext of pursuing ISIS.
Careless dominant powers
Hussam al-Berm, researcher and journalist based in France, said that the relationship between certain ISIS militants and the government forces’ security branches, particularly the Air Force Intelligence, began after the 2018 settlements when those militants were released.
In July 2018, the opposition armed factions and the government forces reached a ceasefire agreement mediated by Russia in the opposition-held areas in Daraa. Under the deal, the opposition armed factions agreed to hand over their weapons in exchange for staying in Daraa, and those who opposed the agreement they were sent to Idlib, which is under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front).
Al-Berm believes that ISIS cells in Daraa do not have the potential to pose major risks because of their small numbers.
Furthermore, rejection of ISIS and its ideology by tribes and the local population acts as a hindrance to the group’s expansion.
The journalist also highlighted Russia’s indifference towards the presence of ISIS in the region, particularly considering its diminished activities in Daraa and Syria as a whole. Nevertheless, Iranian involvement appears to be influential in local security issues in the area.