Russian minister: Turkey’s Syria incursion could help the Islamic State rebirth

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Monday that Turkey’s incursion into northeast Syria left several camps where Islamic State (ISIS) militants are held unprotected and this could lead to the re-emergence of the extreme jihadists group, Russian news agency TASS reported.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which Turkey aims to clear from what it calls a safe zone it plans to establish up to 32 km south of its border in Syria, has been holding thousands of captives taken during its fight against ISIS.

“As a result of (the) Turkish army’s actions, eight refugee camps and 12 prisons for foreign militants were left without guard. This can lead to a so-called reverse migration of terrorists back to their home countries,” TASS quoted Shoigu as telling a defence and security conference in Beijing.

U.S. officials say at least 800 ISIS detainees have been released or escaped after SDF resources were reallocated to defend against Turkish attacks.

Source: Ahval News