IS*IS attacks in SDF-held areas | 11 people, including nine SDF members, ki*lled in 16 operations and attacks by IS*IS since early December 2022

Since early December 2022, ISIS cells have dramatically increased their activity in SDF-held areas including assassinations and attacks, targeting SDF members, employees and workers of the Autonomous Administration. In this context, SOHR activists have documented 16 operations and attacks waged by ISIS members, targeting SDF members in Deir Ezzor and Al-Hasakah areas. These attacks left 11 people, including nine SDF members, dead and nine civilians and combatants injured.

Moreover, SDF forces and ISIS cells clashes continued in Deir Ezzor countryside, where ISIS cells have continued threatening all those who work within SDF-held areas.

Furthermore, ISIS cells waged a surprise attack on SDF security headquarters in Al-Intifadah neighbourhood in the western countryside of Al-Raqqah.

Here are further details of ISIS attacks in SDF-held areas since early December 2022:

• December 2: Unidentified gunmen, believed to be affiliated with ISIS cells, threw a grenade at the home of the local council chief in Abriha village in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, in SDF-held areas, causing material damages only. According to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights activists, the attack came after the head of the council was threatened and alerted by “ISIS” cells, demanding he repents and not work with the SDF.

• December 5: Two SDF members were injured in an attack by unidentified gunmen on a motorbike, believed to be ISIS members, on a checkpoint of Deir Ezzor Military Council forces near the bridge of Al-Fodin village in northern Deir Ezzor countryside.

• December 6: Three SDF members were injured, one seriously, when a military vehicle carrying SDF members was attacked by unidentified gunmen, believed to be ISIS members, on a motorbike with machineguns near the Square of Al-Hosan town in western Deir Ezzor countryside.

• December 6: Unidentified gunmen, believed to be ISIS members, on a motorbike directly shot a civilian in Al-Harejy town northern of Deir Ezzor, injuring him.

• December 7: Residents found the body of a SDF member after being shot dead by unidentified persons, believed to be affiliated with ISIS cells, near the main street in Muaijil village in Al-Basirah village in SDF-controlled areas, in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

• December 8: A young man was found dead with gunshot wounds in the desert of the SDF-controlled village of Al-Jasimi in Al-Suwar district in the northern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

• December 8: An SDF fighter was shot dead by unknown gunmen, believed to be affiliated with ISIS cells, in Al-Dishishah area in the southern countryside of Al-Hasakah.

• December 8: Unidentified gunmen, believed to be of ISIS cells, attacked a checkpoint of Syria Democratic Forces near the irrigation station in Al-Zarr town in Deir Ezzor countryside. Clashes erupted between the attackers and the checkpoint’s members with heavy and light weapons, before the arrival of reinforcement of SDF, which prompted the attackers to escape. However, no casualties were reported.

• December 12: Gunmen, believed to be ISIS members, who were riding a motorcycle, targeted, with automatic weapons, an Asayish commander and an escort in Al-Hariji village in Deir Ezzor countryside, injuring them. The two men were taken to the hospital for treatment.

• December 15: the General Security Service of the Internal Security Forces found the body of decapitated body of a man dumped in a well north of Al-Jazarat village in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor. The Asayish General Security Service found the dead body after investigating and arresting wanted persons.

• December 20: an SDF member was injured after being shot by unidentified gunmen, believed to be ISIS members, near Al-Atal roundabout at the entrance to Al-Shuhayl city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

• December 22: Unidentified gunmen, believed to be affiliated with ISIS, riding a motorcycle, targeted a SDF military vehicle in Dhiban town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, then fled to an unknown destination.

• December 24: Unidentified persons, believed to be affiliated with ISIS cells, threw a grenade at a house behind Al-Hilaliyah dispensary in Al-Qamishli town in the northern countryside of Al-Hasakah, causing material damage only. The gunmen then fled to an unknown destination.

• December 24: A civilian was shot dead by unidentified gunmen, believed to be affiliated with ISIS cells, after being abducted on the road to Al-Tarqiyah village in the southern countryside of Al-Hasakah while he was driving a motorcycle with his wife and children. The gunmen fled to an unknown destination.

• December 25: The director of Al-Basirah hospital was seriously injured by the shooting of unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle, believed to be affiliated with ISIS cells, in front of his home in Al-Basirah city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. The injured man was taken to Jadid Bakarah hospital for treatment.

• December 26: Three members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and three members of the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) were killed in an attack by unidentified gunmen, believed to be ISIS members, on a SDF military headquarters in the western countryside of Al-Raqqah, near an intelligence prison, the former caliphate capital, amid a military alert and a security cordon imposed on the area in search of ISIS cells.

Since Early 2022, SOHR has documented 199 operations carried out by ISIS, including armed attacks and explosions, in areas under the control of the Autonomous Administration.

According to SOHR statistics, these operations left 148 persons dead: 54 civilians, including two women and a child, and 93 members of SDF, the Internal Security Forces, and other military formations operating in areas under the control of the Autonomous Administration.

It is worth noting that these attacks have not included the operation of Ghuwayran prison, which left heavy losses.