The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Fleeing ISIS’ inferno in the desert | Regime soldiers pay nearly $100 to their commanders for monthly leave

The issue of “Al-Tafyeesh” bribe is old and well-known in the army of the Syrian regime, and it has been practiced for decades and continued even during the military operations in various Syrian territories during the years of war. “Al-Tafyeesh” is a colloquial term used in the army, which means a deal between a soldier and his commander, where the soldier pays a regular financial bribe to the officer in return for an open and long-term leave, or for daily or weekly emergency leave.

With ISIS’ rapid resurgence in Syria, through intensive and escalating operations in the Syrian desert, reliable sources have informed the Syrian Observatory that the prices of monthly or weekly leave of the regime soldiers deployed throughout the desert, rose dramatically in light of the escalation of military operations in the region, for fear of ISIS’ ambushes, especially with the great human losses caused by ISIS attacks.

According to Syrian Observatory sources, soldiers in the desert are bribing their officer in charge with amounts ranging from 100,000 Syrian pounds to 150,000 Syrian pounds, just before the escalation of ISIS’ activities in the desert. However, the situation has changed completely with the escalation of the group’s military operations, where financial bribes have doubled to more than 300,000 Syrian pounds, equivalent to about $100, in return for a monthly leave to avoid fighting the group in the desert.

Days ago, SOHR sources reported that ISIS noticeably stepped up its operations in the Syrian desert Since the beginning of 2021, including ambushes, attacks and explosions, inflicting great losses on the ranks of regime forces and loyal militias. It seems that the Islamic State has no intention of capturing posts and positions, but it wanted to send a massage to regime forces and allies that it is still alive and kicking.

Syrian Observatory activists documented the deaths of 52 regime officers, soldiers and loyalists in ambushes, explosions and attacks by ISIS members in the Syrian desert since the beginning of 2021. Most of the fatalities were in the eastern desert of Hama, while the rest were in Deir Ezzor desert. The military operations also left tens of soldiers injured, some seriously. Besides, three civilians, including a little girl, were killed in an ambush on Damascus-Al-Raqqah highway.

On the other hand, ISIS lost at least 25 fighters in Russian airstrikes and clashes in the same period.