The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Escalating operations | ISIS carries out nearly 25 attacks in Syrian desert and SDF-held areas since early November

Syrian Observatory activists have documented four attacks by ISIS members on regime forces and their proxy militias in different areas in the Syrian desert since early November. Also, a kidnapping incident by ISIS was documented in the same period. These attacks left 18 regime soldiers and loyal militiamen, including a major general, dead. These attacks could be summarised as follows:

 

  • Clashes erupted, on November 12, in Palmyra desert between regime forces and their proxy militias on one hand, and ISIS members on the other. No casualties were documented in these clashes.

 

  • SOHR sources reported that ISIS members ambushed regime-backed militiamen in al-Masrab desert in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor on November 12, killing 13 members of “Osod al-Sharqiyyah” (al-Sh’aytat), including a commander. This death toll was the largest among regime forces and their proxies due to ISIS attacks in the past five months.

 

  • ISIS members attacked positions of regime forces and their proxies nearby Palmyra desert in eastern Homs on November 14, where clashes erupted between the two sides, but no casualties were reported.

 

  • ISIS members kidnapped two shepherds, on November 14, in al-Talilah area, more than 25 kilometers to the east of Palmyra, and stole dozens of cattle.

 

  • SOHR activists reported on November 14 that an IED exploded in a car carrying a major general from al-Faroukhiyyah in Banyas countryside. The IED attack occurred in west Deir Ezzor desert where ISIS cell were prevalent, which left the major general and four other soldiers escorting him dead.

 

 

Over 20 assassinations and attacks in SDF-held areas

 

Since early November, areas under the control of Syria Democratic Forces have experienced noticeable escalation of ISIS cells’ operations, as Syrian Observatory documented the death of 13 people assassinated in Deir Ezzor, al-Hasakah and al-Raqqah during this period. Among the total death toll, there were three SDF fighters, three people killed in al-Hawl camp, they were a Syrian girl and two Iraqi refugees, including the official in charge of the Iraqi Refugee Council in the camp.

 

Moreover, SOHR documented five separate attacks by ISIS, which targeted SDF positions and checkpoints in Deir Ezzor, al-Raqqah and al-Hasakah countryside. These attacks could be summarised as follows:

 

  • A man, believed to be of ISIS cells, blew up a grenade in a the centre of the military police in Safya town in al-Hasakah.

 

  • An IED exploded in a vehicle carrying members of the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) in Hajin in eastern Deir Ezzor.

 

  • An IED exploded in al-Raqqah city, injuring an SDF fighter.

 

  • ISIS cells attacked an SDF vehicle with RPG in Daman city in Deir Ezzor countryside.

 

  • Unknown gunmen, believed to be of ISIS cells, opened fire on the checkpoint of al-Hadiqah in al-Shuhayl town.