ISIS eyes resurgence, fighter recruitment in Syria, Iraq – Reuters
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Syrian, Iraqi, American, and European sources have raised alarms over a resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS) and its renewed recruitment of foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq, Reuters reported on Thursday.
According to the sources, ISIS has begun reactivating its sleeper cells in both Syria and Iraq, amid growing concerns that foreign nationals are once again traveling to the region to join the group.
Intelligence agencies have reportedly tracked a limited number of suspected foreign fighters arriving from Europe to Syria in recent months. However, it remains unclear whether they were recruited directly by ISIS or by other actors.
The report also noted that the United States has shared intelligence on the matter with Syrian authorities.
Meanwhile, the sources revealed that Baghdad has unofficially expressed a desire to delay the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, especially amid instability in the region and increasing ISIS activity.