DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Mariam is afraid of the return of Islamic State Organization (ISIS) to Deir ez-Zor, a governorate eastern Syria, after it has intensified its activities in areas held by Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) since early this year.
The 27-year-old Mariam al-Awad, a pseudonym for a woman from the town of Mhemida, west of Deir ez-Zor, is afraid of ISIS the return as the organization has intensified its activities in her area.
“ISIS is a real danger, especially on women and young men,” according to al-Awad.
ISIS lost its final stronghold in Syria in March 2019. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), with the support of the US-led Global Coalition, defeated ISIS after fierce battles in the town of Baghouz in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, bringing an end to the so-called caliphate declared by the terrorist ISIS.
Although the SDF launches intensive security operations, the countryside of Deir ez-Zor has recently witnessed an increase in killing incidents carried out against SDF members, employees of the Autonomous Administration, tribal figures and civil residents.
The SDF keeps pursuing ISIS sleeper cells in Deir ez-Zor eastern countryside with the aim to maintain security and stability of the region.
However, ISIS keeps claiming responsibility for operations it carries out against the SDF.
On October 26, residents of a village in the western countryside of Deir ez-Zor found a decapitated head hanging from an unfinished building.
A day later, ISIS-run Amaq news agency said, in a statement, that ISIS militants managed to take the victim as a captive and he was beheaded after finding out that he is an SDF fighter.
Al-Awad told North Press, “If ISIS come back, they will force us to wear Niqab [an Islamic cover put of women faces] use their own sharia under the pretext of Islam to crackdown and oppress women, and tighten the noose on us.”
“We barely got rid of them, we pray to God they never come back,” she added in her local accent.
Residents of northeastern Syrian have suffered under ISIS and “ruthlessness” of ISIS that suppressed freedom and permitted bloodsheding under the pretext of applying “Islamic sharia.”
Recently, ISIS has been increasingly threatening those who deal with the SDF and forcing merchants and residents to pay money under the name of Zakat (Islamic taxes), as they contact with them using foreign numbers.
On October 3, ISIS blew up a currency exchange office, in a town east of Deir ez-Zor, after the owner refused to pay the Zakat to the organization’s militants.
Zakat, in Islamic sharia, is an obligatory payment for all Muslims who meet the necessary criteria of wealth to help people in need.
In the light of the state of insecurity, Hamid al-Khaled, 36, a pseudonym for a resident of the town of As Sawa, west of Deir ez-Zor, is forced to stay at home at night.
Fears of residents are growing notably, especially in winter, as nights are long and ISIS sleeps cells can move freely.
Due to the numerous claims of responsibility by ISIS, Al-Khaled, does not dare to “walk around at night.”
He said the state of insecurity is “frightening” and it threatens the lives of residents.
The organization deliberately and continuously claims responsibility for operations it launches in the region, stressing that it is existed and can carry out operations.
However, the intensified attacks claimed by ISIS make residents recall its early days of power between 2014 and 2015, as it used to claim responsibility for any attack in the world, according to observers.
The state of instability creates an obstacle for the work of humanitarian institutions and organizations in Deir ez-Zor.
Officials of the US-led Global Coalition call for intensifying support, especially in the security field.
In addition, ISIS escalated its activities in all regions of northeast Syria after the completion of “Humanity and Security” operation in Hawl Camp.
On September 12, ISIS announced that it persecuted six SDF fighters in the countryside of Deir ez-Zor, describing the operation as “revenge” for ISIS family members in Hawl Camp.
The second phase of “Humanity and Security” Operation in Hawl Camp was launched on August 25 by Internal Security Forces of North and East Syria (Asayish) to pursue ISIS sleeper cells.
The first phase was launched in 2021 in response to calls of community and tribal leaders in Hawl countryside to reduce crimes at the camp.
On September 17, the Asayish announced the completion of the operation, arresting 226 individuals, including 36 “radical” women, suspected of belonging to ISIS.
The total toll of attacks claimed by ISIS in the AANES-held areas since early this year has mounted to 155, targeting civilians, military personnel and SDF military vehicles and headquarters.