DARAA, Syria (North Press) – A leader of a local armed faction in Daraa, south Syria, said the Islamic State Organization (ISIS) sought to exploit peoples’ preoccupation with their daily life needs to form an emirate in Daraa.
Since establishment in 2013, ISIS has sought to find a foothold in south Syria notably in Daraa governorate that shares border with Jordan and Palestine.
In 2018 ISIS left Daraa based on an agreement with the Syrian government forces that transferred ISIS militants and their families to east of Suwayda. It detained a number of the militants for a while before setting them free contrary to ones of the anti-government individuals, the vast majority of whom have been kept in prisons since 2019.
Residents stand up to ISIS emirate
The leader of the local faction in the town of Jassim, who spoke to North Press on condition of anonymity, said ISIS sought to make use of the people and militants being preoccupied with their daily issues to create an emirate.
The leader added, “We received information that the group was in the town. A supporter of ISIS has been arrested, and he admitted to names and places of ISIS militants.”
The captured person confessed that the organization “intended to announce an emirate on October 23, with the town of Jassim being its headquarters,” he said.
He went further saying, “After gathering information, local militants decided, after consultation with locals of the town, to raid headquarters of militants of the organization and exterminate them before announcing the so-called emirate.”
He indicated that the government forces facilitated the entry of the ISIS militants to the town; they paid sums of money and passed through the government military checkpoints.
The organization exploited the deteriorating living conditions and sought to recruit youths in return for monthly salaries, according to the leader.
He affirmed the decision to fight ISIS militants was based on a “popular will” with no interference by government forces or security branches that “did not lift a finger.”
Pursuing ISIS militants in Jassim commenced on October 21, when local armed groups called on people via loudspeakers to remain at homes, announcing a number of houses were encircled.
Speaking of the ISIS losses, the leader revealed, “15 militants including nine leaders (two Iraqis and another Lebanese) were killed in the town.
He added, Ayham Faisl al-Halqi, an ISIS Emir, used to facilitate the militants’ entry to the town, claiming they were “IDPs from other governorates.”
Over the last week, over 25 individuals were killed in Daraa mostly ISIS militants in clashes in Jassim, north of Daraa.
The leader noted, “Among ISIS dead was Ayoub al-Jebawi, an emir from the village of Berqa in northern countryside of Daraa, who was the group’s in charge of assassinations.”
A leader in the Eighth Brigade of the Russian- backed Fifth Corps told North Press groups of the brigade headed to Jassim “to support local militants following clashes with ISIS.”
The source added that sending the groups was based on locals militants’ call owing to their need of heavy weapons.
Daraa’s geography
A member in the Central Committee told North Press the reason behind targeting Daraa and the south [Syria] in general owes to its strategic position in linking between three countries; Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon.
He said there is a struggle over influence in the region, “They want their supporting parties to have a foothold in the south whether in Quneitra, Daraa or Suwayda.”
He believes that there is a connection between the Air Forces Intelligence and the office of the 4th Armored Division on one hand and ISIS on the other, adding this belief is based on events taking place in Jassim “where local militants found mines and explosive devices like the ones in the possession of the Lebanese Hezbollah.”
“Up to now, ISIS has not obtained popular support in the governorate except for a little number such as drug dealers,” he noted.
The Central Committee member said events took place in the town could have hard reactions and responses from the part of ISIS militants so they should be exterminated.
Local source from Jassim told North Press that last week a curfew was imposed, all schools were suspended, and traffic movement stopped.
Earlier, a local analyst told North Press ISIS members are still present in more than a point in areas under the Syrian government in Jazira, the border area with Iraq and areas in the south of the country.
“International interests necessitates such groups be kept in areas they retain to be used when needed,” he noted.