IDLIB, Syria — The Islamic State (IS) carries out nearly every day operations in Deir ez-Zor towards the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the civilians it accuses of cooperating with the Kurdish forces. IS can be imposing taxes on store house owners, docs and others by threatening them with homicide and kidnapping through WhatsApp messages.
Moreover, IS is consistently attacking Kurdish forces’ checkpoints and barricades, forcing the SDF to retaliate with large-scale safety and navy operations towards its cells in jap Deir ez-Zor.
On Dec. 14, 2021, IS claimed accountability for separate attacks that focused SDF checkpoints within the jap countryside of Deir ez-Zor, along with a command headquarters in al-Jarthi east of Deir ez-Zor.
On Telegram, IS mentioned its forces targeted two SDF checkpoints — one in Dhiban and the opposite in Suwaidan east of Deir ez-Zor — with grenades and machine weapons. IS additionally focused a number of positions on the bridge highway in Darnaj with machine weapons. The group claimed accountability for a number of earlier assaults on SDF navy headquarters in al-Busaira within the jap countryside of Deir ez-Zor with machine weapons and rocket-propelled grenades.
On Dec. 13, 2021, the SDF — supported by the US-led worldwide coalition — carried out a safety operation within the east of the nation, killing 5 folks. In an announcement concerning the incident, the SDF said the raid that occurred close to al-Busaira focused a hideout utilized by “a harmful cell of the terrorist” armed group IS.
The SDF indicated that the cell’s location was raided with US air help, explaining that members of the terrorist cell opened hearth and SDF forces responded, which led to the killing of 5 members of the cell. “Most of them have been carrying explosive belts,” the assertion added.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 4 folks have been killed within the trade of fireplace, together with a person, his two sons and his son-in-law, who’s more likely to be the principle needed individual within the operation.
The observatory famous that two of them have been killed by helicopter gunfire. “SDF arrested arms sellers and others suspected of belonging to the extremist group.”
Syrian journalist Zain al-Abidin, who lives in Deir ez-Zor’s jap countryside, instructed Al-Monitor, “IS launches nearly every day operations right here with explosive gadgets and assaults towards SDF members, patrols, checkpoints and civilians suspected of cooperating with the SDF. IS additionally forces the native merchants, buyers in oil wells, livestock house owners and docs to pay it a tax, threatening to kill those that fail to pay. IS can be killing anybody working towards witchcraft or suspected of promoting medicine. Within the final two months of 2021, it ramped up its assaults on this area. The biggest strongholds of its cells are the cities of Dhiban, al-Hawaij, al-Zar and al-Shuhail.”
Abidin famous that west of the Euphrates in Deir ez-Zor, IS assaults have grow to be restricted, effectively calculated and restricted to explosive gadgets and missile assaults that concentrate on Syrian regime positions. He added, “IS all the time strikes in small teams, the place every group has its personal commander who has his personal imaginative and prescient. The situation of IS within the [eastern] countryside of Deir ez-Zor differs from its scenario within the Syrian desert the place provides and transportation are tough. Within the desert, IS depends on people to provide it with meals or typically assaults shepherds to safe meals.”
Abidin doesn’t imagine the brand new IS management is the explanation why the group has intensified its actions. “A brand new management has nothing to do with the frequency of operations,” he affirmed. Rumors circulated about IS appointing a brand new chief for what it calls Wilayat of Syria, although IS has not supplied any statements on that.
Jusoor Heart for Research researcher Abbas Sharifa, who resides in Turkey, instructed Al-Monitor, “There are a number of causes that make IS extra energetic in Deir ez-Zor. These embrace the delicate safety scenario there, the place the Syrian regime and the SDF are struggling over energy management and the weak function of the area people. Furthermore, IS is imposing taxes on oil traders on this oil-rich area to realize self-financing.”
“There isn’t any doubt that any new IS management would attempt to show itself by intensifying its operations. This, nonetheless, requires energetic cells, a database of occasions, logistical help bases, and safety and safety measures,” Sharifa mentioned.
He indicated that IS is imposing its spiritual teachings within the countryside of Deir ez-Zor, which displays the area people’s incapacity to withstand it amid the regime and the SDF’s management of the province.
“By intensifying its exercise, IS is sending a two-way message,” Sharifa mentioned. “The primary is aimed to encourage its members to ramp up their actions within the area, and the second is to threaten and intimidate its enemies.”
Many causes might permit IS to spice up its power and regain energy on this area, together with the truth that the worldwide coalition has reduce on its assaults, he mentioned. “IS is tapping into Iran’s enlargement and missionary exercise to unfold Shiism within the area, which is a serious provocation to the area people. Additionally it is profiting from the absence of a simply political answer that brings peace to Syria on the whole and to the area specifically.”
