ISIS exploits security vacuum in Syrian Desert – SDF’s Abdi
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – ISIS is capitalizing on a security vacuum left by the Assad regime in the Syrian Desert to stockpile weapons and establish strategic positions, Mazloum Abdi, Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said on Sunday.
Speaking to The Times, Abdi stated, “There is a security vacuum. In the desert, Daesh has been able to secure locations and weapons.”
He explained that ISIS’ ultimate goal is to launch attacks on urban areas, emphasizing that SDF forces have already taken steps to infiltrate and monitor their movements. “We know their primary goals is the cities,” Abdi added.
Discussing Syria’s political future and governance following Assad’s rule, Abdi stressed that the emerging administration is working towards inclusivity, particularly addressing international concerns regarding minority representation.
“The new Syrian administration is taking international demands [to be inclusive of minorities] into consideration,” he noted.
However, this approach contradicts the ideology of figures like al-Sharaa, who is known for his Salafist and jihadist beliefs, according to The Times.
Abdi suggested that ISIS is exploiting the shift towards civil governance, which moves away from strict Islamic law. “The direction now is towards imposing [non-Islamic] civil law and Daesh is exploiting this,” he said.
In a related development, Aaron Zelin, an expert on jihadist groups at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told The Times that ISIS circles have been discussing plans to assassinate al-Sharaa.
“There are a lot of discussions in ISIS circles about assassinating Sharaa,” Zelin said. “They could be quiet now because they’re planning along those lines.”