ISIS sleeper cell attacks Asayish headquarters in Syria’s Raqqa – AANES
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – A security official in Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) told North Press that an Islamic State Organization (ISIS) sleeper cell attacked on Monday a headquarters of Internal Security Forces of North and East Syria (Asayish) in Raqqa, north Syria.
This morning, gunshots were heard in Raqqa in tandem with deploying Asayish members in the city and blocking streets leading to National Hospital and the main Asayish headquarters in al-Intifada neighborhood in the city center.
Ali Hejjo, Co-chair of Interior Board of the AANES, said that at about 10:00 am an ISIS sleeper cell attacked the Asayish headquarters west of Raqqa.
The Asayish killed one of the ISIS attackers and arrested another, who was wearing a suicide vest, Hajo added.
Security forces are still combing the city for the remnants of the cell that partook in the attack on the Asayish headquarters then fled away, according to the Co-chair of Interior Board.
Hejjo did not provide any details about any injured Asayish members.
He linked this ISIS attack with Turkish threats to invade the region, saying “The threats gave moral support to ISIS sleeper cells to activate and execute attacks.”
Since May, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been threatening to launch a new military operation against areas in north Syria, particularly in Manbij, Tel Rifaat and Kobani.
Following intensive Turkish bombardment on north Syria on Nov. 20, Turkey has intensified statements over launching the operation, failing to grant a green light so far, the thing that urged ISIS to reorganize itself and increase attacks in the region.
Earlier on Monday, a paramedic from Raqqa National Hospital said that five members of the Asayish were injured as a result of the armed attack on the Asayish headquarters in the city.
Farhad Shami, Director of the Media Center of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said in a statement that four SDF fighters and Asayish members lost their lives in the attack.