By Zana al-Ali
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – Security experts believe that the Islamic State (ISIS) remained capable of launching sophisticated attacks in northeast Syria and moving freely in all its areas.
These experts concur that ISIS has the ability to carry out attacks on prisons and camps in northeastern Syria, similar to the events at al-Sinaa Prison which hold ISIS militants in Hasakah Governorate, northeastern Syria, two years ago.
There are over 10,000 ISIS militants, mostly leaders, held in prisons by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), alongside more than 50,000 individuals, mostly women and children of the families of ISIS militants in Hawl and Roj camps, northeastern Syria.
Munir Adib, a researcher specializing in Islamist movements, extremist organizations, and international terrorism, asserted that ISIS still poses a threat to international peace and security, as well as to the inhabitants in the areas where it operates as terrorist sleeper cells, especially in Syria. Consequently, it is capable of attacking prisons and camps, despite it has been defeated since 2019.
Adib further told North Press that by examining the group’s operations, we believe that there is a real danger and it is capable to launch attacks on prisons and camps in northeastern Syria.
He noted that ISIS continues to carry out sophisticated armed operations at different times.
The expert also highlights that inside the camps, children of ISIS are being trained in extremist ideology and weapon usage, preparing them for action when the time is right. Their aim is to launch attacks on the camps from the outside, carried out by the group’s sleeper cells.
ISIS operates attacks globally
ISIS exploits many matters to launch its attacks such as the unstable situation in the world, the international community’s preoccupation with other matters, especially after the Russian-Ukrainian war, Israel-Hamas conflict, and even the war in Sudan, according to Adib.
“ISIS organizes its ranks while the international community is distracted, carries out operations, communicates with its sleeper cells, and promotes them through outlets affiliated with it to gain favor with its supporters,” Adib stated.
On his part, political science professor and security expert Essam al-Fayli stated that the number of operations carried out by ISIS has exceeded 2,000 operations in Syria alone since the declaration of its defeat five years ago.
Early in 2024, an operation was carried out in Iran on the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, Iranian major general and commander of the Quds Force, resulting in the killing of 103 individuals and the injury of 141. Al-Fayli emphasized that the group operates its attacks actively and deploys its sleeper cells globally.
Examining ISIS operations targeting sites across different countries reveals that the group moves and operates its activities globally, employing various covert methods, according to al-Fayli.
Despite significant losses over the past five years, ISIS persists to operate its activities, as it has claimed responsibility for 94 operations in Syria since the beginning of 2024.
According to Insight Organization, ISIS launched 72 attacks against the SDF, 41 against the Syrian government forces, seven against Iranian-backed militias, and nine against civilians.