The multi-ethnic military alliance announced the launching of an operation, entitled the ‘Deterence of Terrorism’, following what they describe as thorough information gathering, to “pursue and track the cells of ISIS terrorist organization in the eastern Badia along the Khabour River and the Syrian-Iraqi border,” reads a statement from the SDF.
The operation is targeting “hideouts and hotbeds which were a source of concern to the people and that work to disturb security and stability in the region and constitute a threat that threatens the return of ISIS,” it added.
Around 6,000 SDF fighters are taking part in the military campaign and it is expected to last for about five days, military sources told SDF-affiliated Ronahi TV. In their statement, the forces say the operation will continue “until the completion of the full mission.”
Adnan Afrini, a commander of the SDF, spoke to Rudaw TV from the frontlines in al-Shaddadi town, claiming that they have arrested 20 ISIS militants.
“We do not know the full identity of the detained until they are interrogated … We have not detained any commanders, just 20 people but the number may increase. They will all be interrogated,” he said.
Afrini also said that ISIS sleeper cells have “exploited” the coronavirus-related lockdown in the area by increasing their military activities.
ISIS carried out several attacks in Deir ez-Zor in the recent weeks, followed by security raids by the SDF and the coalition. The focus of Thursday’s operation is also Deir ez-Zor.
Some residents of al-Shaddadi town on Syria-Iraq border protested against lack of basic services and poor condition of life on Thursday, resulting in the death of a protester and injury of several others, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
The protests resumed on Friday, demanding the trial of those responsible for Thursday’s reported death, added the UK-based war monitor.
ISIS used to control swaths of Syrian and Iraqi territories in 2014 but it was declared defeated in both countries in 2019 and 2017 respectfully.
The coalition has carried out several airstrikes in Deir ez-Zor since May, killing three ISIS leaders.
Christiaan James, a spokesperson for the US State Department, told Rudaw late Friday that the aim of the operation is to “defeat Daesh and confront its attacks and threats sourcing from it.”
Afrini also told Rudaw that they do not know the exact number of ISIS fighters on the Syria-Iraq border, but claims there are “a large number of them.”
According to the commander, they have thus-far only confiscated light weaponry and IEDs in the new operation.
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