Syria watchdog identifies 27 former ISIS leaders in armed opposition groups
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Monday, human rights watchdog Syrians for Truth and Justice published a report in which they identified 27 former ISIS members and leaders now serving in the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA).
The report entitled “Ongoing Violations Without Accountability: Islamic State Members in the Syrian National Army” documented 27 individuals out of 65 known former ISIS members currently active in the ranks of the SNA, which is linked to the Syrian Interim Government operating under the Turkish-backed National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces.
Eight groups were defined as having ISIS members within their ranks in the report, including the Turkish-backed Military Police, the Sultan Murad Division, Hamzat Division, and the Malek Shah Division.
The report delves thoroughly into the mass exodus of ISIS fighters to the SNA when the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS began to assault ISIS positions in Raqqa; allegedly clan elders, particularly those in eastern Syria, were able to facilitate these transfers. The report details the use of trained, skilled ex-ISIS militants being used by SNA groups for “sniping operations, assassinations, and suicide attacks, in addition to regularly attacking other armed groups in the SNA.”
Many former ISIS members now not only have a presence, but play a crucial role in, the Turkish occupation of Syria’s Sere Kaniye (invaded in 2019) and Afrin (invaded in 2018). Abu Shehba Tayyana of the Eastern Army (Jaysh al-Sharqiya) headed operations during the invasion of Sere Kaniye, and now is a well-known drug dealer in the area, according to the report. Many of the individuals listed in the report carried out war crimes and participated in mass executions during their stint with ISIS, and others committed violations against local populations after joining the SNA, including theft and looting, kidnapping, arbitrary arrests, torture and mistreatment of detainees, and field executions.
The report also mentions the travel of these individuals and divisions which house former ISIS members to warzones in Libya and Azerbaijan to fight alongside the Turkish military, leaving no doubt as to the Turkish knowledge of ISIS presence in the SNA when quoting a high-ranking SNA officer who stated:
“The Turkish intelligence service directly studies the files of officers who are nominated to assume leadership positions in the region, and appoints the leaders directly. All current commanders in the SNA and its affiliated agencies, including civil police, military police and others, have been approved by the same service.”
The full report is available to read in English here.