Four SDF members killed in surprise ISIS attack: SOHR

Four members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were killed in a surprise attack by ISIS cells in the countryside of Deir ez-Zor on Wednesday, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reports, illustrating the continued threat of the terror group.

The SDF members were killed in the attack in the town of Hawayij, east of Deir ez-Zor. Moreover, one civilian was killed in the attack.

On Dec. 19, the SOHR also reported that ISIS cells kidnapped three shepherds and stole a number of sheep in Al-Sabkha Desert in the countryside of Raqqa, the former ISIS capital.

According to SOHR data, at least 120 people have been killed by ISIS attacks since early 2023.

This includes 89 members of the SDF, Internal Security Forces (Asayish, not to be confused with Kurdistan Region Asayish) and other military formations operating in areas under the control of the SDF.

Despite the SDF and US-led Coalition’s announcement of ISIS’s territorial defeat in Syria back in March 2019, ISIS cells continue to carry out attacks in regions that were previously liberated by the Kurdish-led forces, with Deir ez-Zor being a particularly active area for the terror group.

Moreover, Damascus-backed insurgents calling themselves the ‘tribal army’ have also attacked SDF fighters in the last four months, since the SDF dismissed and arrested the Deir ez-Zor Military Council head Abu Khawla.

Source » kurdistan24.net