US sets new plan to defeat ISIS in Syria – Politico
QAMIHSLI, Syria (North Press) – The US Department of Defense (DoD) improved facilities and services so militants of Islamic State Organization (ISIS) cannot break out detention centers in northeastern Syria.
An official of the DoD told Politico, in an interview, that recently, ISIS militants have targeted areas of detention centers multiply, most notably attacking al-Sina’a prison in Hasakah governorate, northeastern Syria.
On January 20, ISIS sleeper cells attacked al-Sina’a prison where thousands of ISIS detainees were held whom captured earlier by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) during battles against the hardline ISIS.
ISIS attack was coincident with three successive explosions carried out by ISIS sleeper cells to free their fellows out from the prison. Some ISIS detainees managed to escape while others spread in the vicinity of the prison and hid among residential neighborhoods.
“We know that ISIS sees the detention centers, the detainee population, as the path to reconstitute its ranks,” the official said.
“The Pentagon sought authority and funding from Congress to make some improvements,” according to the source.
The US forces have begun the plan with building guard towers and installing lights to prevent nighttime smuggling.
The purpose of the plan is to build more secure and humane facilities, with access to medical and other services. However, it is expected to take several years.
The long-term solution is repatriating the prisoners to their countries, the source noted.
“If the repatriation efforts continue at this rate, we will be there for a decade or more,” the official said.
Any progress the US and its partners are making in the country could be impeded by another large-scale Turkish invasion of northeastern Syria.
On May 23, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to launch a new military operation in Syria, claiming to secure Turkey’s southern border. Erdogan specified his targets in the two northern Syrian cities of Manbij and Tel Rifaat.
On July 1, Erdogan said that Ankara’s new military operation in northern Syria could begin at any moment.
“The time has come to clear these lands from the terrorist organizations,” Erdogan threatened during Tehran Summit.
Tehran’s trilateral Summit brought presidents of Iran, Russia and Turkey together on July 19 with Syrian issue on the top of its agenda.