The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

ISIS attacks since early 2023 | 25 people, mostly combatants, killed and injured in over 14 operations in SDF-held areas

ISIS attacks have dramatically escalated and continued in an upward trend in areas controlled by the Autonomous Administration of North and North-east Syria, despite all the counter-security campaigns carried out by the SDF with the support of the international coalition forces.

Since the beginning of 2023, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) activists have documented 14 operations, armed attacks, and explosions carried out by ISIS cells. According to the Syrian Observatory, these attacks left 12 people dead; they are as follows:

• One civilian.

• Ten SDF, internal security forces and other military formations operating in the autonomous Administration-held areas.

• An unidentified person.

The operations are distributed regionally as follows:

– Al-Raqqah: Seven operations left three combatants dead.

– Deir Ezzor: Five operations left one civilian, one unidentified man, and one fighter dead.

– Aleppo: Two operations left six combatants, including commanders, dead and over 13 people injured.

 

Here are further details of ISIS operations and attacks in SDF-held areas since early 2023:

• January 1: Two members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were injured in the explosion of an IED that was planted by ISIS members in a military vehicle on the road between Al-Raqqah city and Ain Issa town, north of Al-Raqqah.

• January 2: The Body of an unidentified man in his forties was found with gunshot wounds to the head in Abu Al-Naytel, north of Deir Ezzor. The body was taken to the hospital and then buried at the cemetery in Al-Sour city.

• January 2: Two members of Internal Security Forces (Asayish) were injured by a landmine planted on the roadside, coinciding with the passage of Asayish military vehicle, on Ain Issa-Tel Al-Samen road in the northern Al-Raqqah countryside.

• January 3: An SDF military vehicle was hit by IED on Al-Manakher road, east of Al-Raqqah.

• January 4: Two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle targeted an SDF military vehicle with machine guns, near Al-Tabqah junction, west of Al-Raqqah.

• January 4: A member of the internal security forces (Asayish) died of wounds he sustained in an attack carried out by ISIS cells on Abyad road linking the cities of Al-Raqqah and Al-Hasakah.

• January 4: An SDF member was killed, and six others were seriously injured by a landmine planted by ISIS cells on the road to Al-Sayyid Ibrahim in the southern countryside of Manbij, east of Aleppo, coinciding with the passing of a military vehicle carrying SDF members.

• January 4: Gunmen, believed to be ISIS members, targeted a leader of the Internal Security Forces, near an Asayish checkpoint, in Al-Sabhah town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, leaving no casualties.

• January 4: Five SDF members were killed and another seriously injured by the explosion of a landmine, planted by ISIS, on the road to Al-Sayyid Ibrahim in the southern countryside of Manbij, east of Aleppo, coinciding with the passing of a military vehicle carrying SDF members.

• January 7: A young man was killed by ISIS gunmen on motorcycles in Al-Hasan village in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor.

• January 10: ISIS members attempted to assassinate a spokesman for Al-Bakir tribe, Reda Al-Awad, nicknamed “Al-Sistani,” the head of the local council of Al-Ezbet village, located in SDF-held areas, in the northern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

• January 11: Two SDF members were killed in an armed attack by ISIS cells on Al-Raqqah-Al-Samrah road, east of Al-Raqqah city.

• January 12: An SDF member was injured by the explosion of an IED planted by ISIS on the road to Ain Issa town north of Al-Raqqah while a military vehicle carrying SDF members was passing.

• January 12: A member of Internal Security Forces (Asayish) was shot dead by gunmen, riding a motorcycle, believed to be affiliated with ISIS cells, in Al-Hasan town in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor.