DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Ahmad does not feel safe in his insecure region. He closes his shop every day at sunset and avoids wandering between villages at night in order to avoid getting robbed or killed.
What scares him most is the Islamic State’s (ISIS) activities. Despite the extensive security operations conducted by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to pursue remnants of the group, Ahmad’s proximity to the scene of activities and the constant barrage of news circulated about the group keeps his fears alive.
Ahmad al-Ali, 40, from the village of al-Hawi, 11km west of Deir ez-Zor, said the situation in his region is “unstable” but “good” compared to other areas in Deir ez-Zor.
Deir ez-Zor has experienced instability since it was ISIS’ last stronghold; four years later, it continues to be stage for most of the group’s activities. Deir ez-Zor officials demand that the US-led Global Coalition stabilizes the region and enhances the security there, so that they may be able to provide services for the people.
Al-Ali tries not to move at night or keep his shop open for fear of armed robberies, gangs, and individuals who take advantage of ISIS’ name and demand zakat (a form of Muslim almsgiving) from traders.
The group’s sleeper cells are active throughout the Deir ez-Zor countryside despite the constant combing operations. Locals said that individuals and gangs are using the fear of the group to carry out actions under ISIS’ name.
That is why Hassan al-Khidir, 30, from the Safira region, 12km west of Deir ez-Zor, refuses to drive his cab in the eastern region, where the group is “more active.”
He said he declines any taxi orders to the eastern regions, whatever the wage is. “It is not secure, and many unsolved murders occur there,” he adds.
He noted that the entire countryside of Deir ez-Zor is dangerous, but the eastern area is “far worse,” especially recently. The activity of ISIS sleeper cells has increased throughout Deir ez-Zor, which has served as incubator for supporters, due in part to the possibility of hiding in the desert.
Sultan al-Jaber, 25, from the village of Hamar al-Ali, 15km west of Deir ez-Zor, said the deteriorating security is due to other factors, like poverty, arms proliferation, and the spread of drugs.
Poverty and lack of job opportunities led to the formation of criminal gangs. Drugs like hashish have also spread. Deir ez-Zor is considered an entry gate to regions on the opposite bank of the Euphrates River, which are under the control of government forces and Iran-backed militias.
The Syrian Desert covers nearly half of the area of Syria, and is distributed over the governorates of Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Rif Dimashq, Suwayda and Palmyra.
Iranian-backed militias and the government forces control large areas of the Syrian Desert and the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, which constitutes a source of concern as it witnesses intensive operations by the Islamic State Organization (ISIS) sleeper cells.
Al-Jaber criticizes the lack of effective control and authority on the ground, particularly amid the proliferation of weapons among civilians, which resulted in many “armed robbery” gangs and tribal infighting.
Many humanitarian organizations in northeast Syria choose not to operate in Deir ez-Zor region due to security concerns, despite the need for humanitarian intervention in the services and medical sector.
North Press reached out to Muhammad al-Rajab, the co-chair of the Deir ez-Zor Civil Council, for a comment on the deteriorating security, but received no response.
ISIS lost its final stronghold in Syria in March 2019. The 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.
After Baghouz, thousands of ISIS fighters were transferred to prisons, while their families were transferred to Hawl and Roj camps in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES)-held areas.
Issue of the family members of the ISIS held in camps in northeast Syria constitutes an ongoing challenge for the non-internationally recognized AANES, which repeatedly demands that the concerned countries repatriate their nationals.
Also, the AANES continues to call on the international powers to provide support for establishing rehabilitation centers and help in tackling the security situation in the facilities were ISIS foreign nationals are held.
Despite many calls, the majority of countries, including those participating in the Global coalition, refuse to repatriate their nationals.
The countryside of Deir ez-Zor witnesses an increase in cases of assassination, targeting members of the SDF, employees of the AANES, tribal leaders and civilians, despite the intensive security operations launched by the SDF.