We aim to end the threat of ISIS sleeper cells in northeastern Syria – SDF spokesperson
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press)
The Syrian Democratic Forces’ military campaign aims to "end the threat of sleeper cells" in North and East Syria and "restore security and stability" to the region, SDF spokesperson Kino Gabriel told North Press on Thursday.
The SDF, with the support of the Global Coalition, launched a massive military campaign to pursue ISIS cells in the area from the Hasakah countryside to the town of al-Baghouz east of Deir ez-Zor.
“The campaign is a continuation of previous military operations carried out by the SDF alongside the Global Coalition in order to eliminate ISIS sleeper cells and end their threat to the northeastern regions of Syria," Gabriel said.
He added that the campaign aims to "restore security and stability to all areas that were liberated from the terrorist organization about a year ago, in order to support the efforts of the Autonomous Administration and the Global Coalition to restore life to normal."
Gabriel said that the campaign is an implementation of the decision of the General Command of the Syrian Democratic Forces, which was made at a meeting held last month.
On May 23, the SDF Military Council held a regular meeting in which it stressed the continuation of programs “aimed at supporting local civil and military councils to enhance security and stability in the region."
“The decision includes launching a massive campaign against sleeper cells, not only in the border areas, but in all regions of North and East Syria, and yesterday one of these stages began," said Gabriel.
Gabriel stated that "counter-terrorism units and various military groups supported by the Global Coalition are participating in the campaign in order to detect and eliminate ISIS sleeper cells, and to ensure that there are no terrorist operations by those cells in the future. The operations continue in other regions in the next stage."
More than six thousand fighters are taking part in the campaign, according to what a commander in the Syrian Democratic Forces, Adnan Afrin, previously told North Press.