ISIS in March 2023 | Ongoing escalation in Syrian desert leaves 27 civilians and 44 regime soldiers and proxy militiamen dead, and ISIS cells carry out 11 operations in SDF-controlled areas

Although the Counter-ISIS International Coalition command and the leaders of Syria Democratic Forces announced the elimination of the so-called Caliphate of the “Islamic State” in March 2019, recent developments on the ground indicate that ISIS has not been fully eliminated. ISIS continues launching military operations and counter-attacks which are met with security campaigns by Coalition forces and their Syria Democratic Forces partner throughout SDF-controlled areas, in addition to military operations by Russian and regime forces against ISIS cells in areas under their control. However, ISIS cells are still able to exploit opportunities to create a security vacuum and carry out assassinations, which clearly indicates that the “Islamic State” is still alive and kicking.

 

In the 104^th month after the declaration of “Al-Baghdadi’s Caliphate,” ISIS carried out 11 operations, including armed attacks and explosions, in areas controlled by SDF, killing six persons: one civilian and five members of the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) which are operating in areas controlled by the Autonomous Administration.

 

Those operations are distributed regionally as follows:

 

• Deir Ezzor: Ten operations left one civilian and five combatants dead.

 

• Al-Hasakah: One operation left several people injured.

 

Further details on these operations are as follows:

 

• March 1: A member of the Internal Security Forces “Al-Asayesh” died affected by the wounds he sustained in February 26, due to an attack by ISIS cells on a checkpoint of the Internal Security Forces in Abo Hardob town in eastern Deir Ezzor countryside.

 

• March 2: An SDF member was killed in an attack by “ISIS” cells on a military checkpoint in Al-Sabhah town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

 

• March 4: An SDF member was injured in an armed attack that is likely to be carried out by ISIS members on an SDF military checkpoint near Al-Attal Square in Al-Basira city in eastern Deir Ezzor countryside.

 

• March 5: A member of “SDF” died of the injuries he sustained a day earlier in the attack that carried out by “ISIS” members on a military checkpoint of “SDF” near Al-Attal roundabout in Al-Busaiyah city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

 

• March 8: Unknown gunmen on motorcycles, believed to be of ISIS cells, opened fire on two young men in Al-Sabha town in east Deir Ezzor countryside, killing one and injuring the other seriously, where the injured young man was taken to the hospital. The two young men are from Daman village in the northern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

 

• March 9: An SDF fighter sustained serious injuries, after having been shot by ISIS cells on the road to Al-Omar oil field on the outskirts of Al-Shuhayl town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

 

• March 11: A member of the Internal Security Forces “Asayish” died of the wounds he sustained in the attack which carried out by “ISIS” cells targeting a checkpoint of the Internal Security Forces “Asayish” on February 26 in Abu Hardoub town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor

 

• March 11: Gunmen believed to belong to ISIS attacked the owner of a pharmacy with a hand grenade at Kawo’ Al-Raghib junction in Al-Hawayj village eastern of Deir Ezzor, for “refusing to pay the imposed Zakat.”

 

• March 22: Gunmen believed to belong to ISIS attacked a checkpoint of the Internal Security Forces “Al-Asayesh” at the outskirts of Al-Jasmy town in northern Deir Ezzor countryside, where the checkpoint was attacked by RPG shells.

 

• March 24: Three SDF members were injured by the explosion of an IED planted by unidentified gunmen, who are likely to belong to ISIS, while they were in their car on the road between markada and Al-Shadady near Al-Dashisha village southern of Al-Hasakah.

 

• March 24: Two SDF members were injured after being targeted with machineguns by unidentified gunmen on a motorbike, who are likely to belong to ISIS, in Hawayej town in western Deir Ezzor countryside, and they were taken to Al-Salam Hospital to receive proper medication.

 

• March 26: Two gunmen on a motorcycle, believed to be of ISIS cells, shot dead a member of Syrian Democratic Forces at Al-Tammah checkpoint in Deir Ezzor province, before they escaped.

 

• March 27: Two gunmen, believed to belong to ISIS, on a motorbike attacked Al-Kaziya checkpoint in Hawayej Zaiban village in eastern Deir Ezzor countryside of SDF, where SDF members responded with gunshots before the gunmen fled to an unknown destination.

 

Meanwhile, SDF continued their security operations, backed by the International Coalition, persecuting and eliminating members of ISIS cells in north and east Syria. In the past month, SOHR documented 11 security operations by SDF, including four joint campaigns with International Coalition Forces, which led to the arrest of 18 ISIS members.

 

 

In the Syrian desert, however, ISIS continued its operations, including ambushes, armed attacks and explosions, in areas under the control of the Syrian regime and its allies, especially in Al-Rasafah desert, the surrounding areas of Jabal Al-Bishri in Al-Raqqah, the frontlines of Ithriyah, Al-Rahjan and other frontlines in the eastern countryside of Hama, the desert of Al-Sukhnah, Palmyra in Homs countryside, Deir Ezzor desert and the administrative border between Al-Raqqah and Deir Ezzor.

 

According to SOHR sources, ISIS carried out 19 attacks in the past month, killing 44 regime soldiers and proxy militiamen, including three Iranian-backed militiamen, while ISIS lost six members in clashes and security campaigns. In addition, 27 civilians were killed in the same period in ISIS attacks in the Syrian desert.

 

Here is a regional distribution of those attacks:

 

-Homs desert: Seven operations left 16 fatalities:

 

• 11 combatants, including three Iranian-backed militiamen.

 

• Four civilians.

 

• One ISIS member.

 

-Al-Raqqah desert: One operation left two fatalities: a combatant and a civilian.

 

-Deir Ezzor desert: Five operations left 21 combatants and three ISIS members dead.

 

-Hama desert: Five operations left 33 fatalities: 12 combatants, 19 civilians and two ISIS members.

 

-Aleppo desert: One operation left three civilians dead.

 

Here are further details on ISIS attacks in the Syrian desert in March:

 

• March 3: A member of the regime-backed Osod Al-Sharqiyah died affected by the wounds he sustained in February, due to the explosion of an old landmine in Kabajeb area in southern Deir Ezzor countryside.

 

• March 4: A young man and his sister were killed due to the explosion of a landmine planted earlier by “ISIS,” which exploded under the motorbike they were riding while looking for “truffle” in Duwaizein in the eastern countryside of Salamiyah, east of Hama. Where the bodies were taken to the national hospital of Salamiyah.

 

• March 4: A group of “ISIS” cells attacked a group of shepherds in Abeid valley in Al-Raqqah countryside, where ISIS killed one of them, kidnapped another and stole about 1,000 sheep.

 

• March 4: Residents found the bodies of three young men of “Al-Jamlan” tribe and an NDF member in Al-Azib valley and Duwaizin areas in the eastern countryside of Hama.

 

• March 5: Residents found the bodies of two young men in Al-Azib valley and Duwaizin areas in the eastern countryside of Hama, days after having been kidnapped by “ISIS’ members while they were searching for “truffle,” bringing the number of that attack’s victims to six, including a member of “National Defence Forces.” It is noted that the two killed young men were civilians.

 

• March 5: Three members of the National Defence were killed and two others were injured due to the the explosion of a landmine targeting a military vehicle in Al-Masrib desert in western Deir Ezzor countryside.

 

• March 6: Residents found the body of a young man who was shot dead in the head in Duwaizin area in the eastern countryside of Hama, days after having been kidnapped by “ISIS’ members, bringing the number of that attack’s victims to seven, including a member of “National Defence Forces.”

 

• March 6: A regime soldier was killed, when a military patrol was trapped in an ambush by gunmen, who are believed to be ISIS cells, in Al-Sokhna desert in Homs countryside, and the victim hails from Talkalakh city in western Homs countryside.

 

• March 8: Three shepherds were shot in the head, while they were herding animal stock, in an attack by ISIS cells near Tel Selma in eastern Salmiyah countryside eastern of Hama.

 

• March 10: ISIS cells carried out a surprise attack, attempting to kidnap truffle hunters escorted by members of the “National Defence Forces in Kabajeb area on Damascus-Deir Ezzor highway in the Syrian desert. Clashes erupted between the two sides, which resulted in the death of an NDF member and injury of a truffle hunter from Tebb Al-Jourah neighbourhood in Deir Ezzor city. The attackers also kidnapped another truffle hunter, before they escaped into the desert.

 

• March 11: A group of gunmen, who are likely to belong to “ISIS” cells, attacked “truffle” pickers in Khanaser desert in the south-eastern countryside of Aleppo near the posts of Iranian-backed militias, where they slaughtered three young men and kidnapped at least 26, including women, and took them to unknown destination. It is noted that the three killed men were from Al-Safirah area in Aleppo countryside.

 

• March 13: Residents found the body of a member of Osoud Al-Sharqiya militia of the National Defence, where he was executed by gunshots by ISIS cells in Al-Tabany desert near the salt mine in western Deir Ezzor countryside.

 

• March 15: A surprise attack was carried out by gunmen believed to be of ISIS cells, targeting a group of regime soldiers with light and medium weapons in Palmyra desert in the eastern countryside of Homs, which resulted in the death of a soldier.

 

• March 19: Two regime soldiers were killed in the explosion of a landmine planted earlier by ISIS in Jabal Al-Marah area in Al-Sukhnah desert in the eastern countryside of Homs.

 

• March 20: A surprise attack was carried out by gunmen believed to be of ISIS cells, targeting a group of regime soldiers with light and medium weapons in Palmyra desert in the eastern countryside of Homs, which resulted in the death of two soldiers.

 

• March 21: Two members of the regime-backed National Defence were killed due to the explosion of a landmine, during a combing operations in Palmyra desert in eastern Homs countryside searching for people missing in the desert, where the two victims hail from Al-Sokhna city in Homs countryside.

 

• March 23: 15 people: seven civilians and eight tribesmen working for Al-Qaterji militia, were slaughtered by ISIS in the area between Marina cliff and Haribah in the east of Ithariyah in Sallamiyah countryside in the eastern desert of Hama.

 

• March 25: The bodies of five members of the regime-backed National Defence Forces of Al-Bosaraya tribe from Ayyash town in Deir Ezzor countryside were found in the western desert of Deir Ezzor. The five men were among the group of 12, which has been gone missing since it headed to the desert on March 9 under a security campaign to search for ISIS cells.

 

• March 26: Four civilians were killed and two others were kidnapped in an armed attack by gunmen in four-wheel drive vehicles (4×4), believed to be of ISIS cells, while searching for truffle in Sha’er area in Palmyra countryside in the Syrian desert. The fate of the kidnapped remains unknown.

 

• March 27: Three Iranian-backed non-Syrian militiamen were killed and two others were injured in the explosion of a landmine in their vehicle, while they were on a military mission yesterday in an area between Al-Koum village and Al-Sukhnah city in the eastern countryside of Homs. The fatalities were taken to Al-Sukhnah dispensary.

 

• March 27: The number of members of the National Defence Forces of Al-Bosaraya tribe, who were killed in Deir Ezzor desert, has increased to 12, as more seven bodies were found today. The 12 men were gone missing when they headed to the desert on March 9 under a security campaign to search for ISIS cells. SOHR sources suggest that the group was eliminated by ISIS.

 

• March 28: Three civilians were slaughtered by ISIS cells, while collecting “truffle” near Enad Al-Tawm and Duwaizain areas in Salamiya countryside eastern of Hama. The decomposed bodies were taken to the national hospital in Hama, amid reports of the missing of more civilians in this attack.

 

 

Separately, Coalition drones attacked a motorcycle, on February 24, on the road to Qah Mashhad Rouhin in Idlib countryside near the Syria-Turkey border, killing two jihadists. Reliable SOHR sources have confirmed that one of the targeted jihadists was an Iraqi ISIS Emir (top commander) known as “Abdulraouf Al-Muhajer,” aka “Abi Sara Al-Iraqi,” and the other man was his Iraqi escort. “Abi Sara Al-Iraqi” was the Emir of the general administrator of ISIS states and he was also a leader in “Hurras Al-Din.” He was also the latest de-facto leader of ISIS. SOHR was unable to verify the identity of the man who was escorting “Abi Sara Al-Iraqi.”

 

 

Islamic State’s abductees: ignored and unaccounted

 

Although nearly 48 months have passed since the International Coalition’s announcement of the defeat of ISIS which was a dominant force east of Euphrates River, and with the recent developments over the past period, however, silence still surrounds the issue of ISIS’s abductees. All sides remain quiet and provide no clarification on the fate of thousands of abductees, where fear continues to grow for the lives and fate of the abductees, including Father Paolo Daololio, Bishops John Ibrahim and Paul Yazji, Abdullah Al Khalil, a British journalist, sky News journalist and other journalists, in addition to hundreds of abductees from Ain Al Arab (Kobani) area and Afrin, as well as the people of Deir Ezzor.

 

With the continuing crimes and violations against Syrian civilians, including death threats against SOHR workers by the Islamic State and other killers and criminals in Syria, The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights renews its vows to continue its work by monitoring, documenting and publishing all violations and crimes that committed against the Syrian people.

 

We, at the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, renew our call to the UN Security Council to refer those war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Syria to the International Criminal Court so that all the criminals and killers of the Syrian people are brought to justice.

 

SOHR has been all along warning against ISIS resurgence and stressing that the defeat of ISIS in Syrian territory, as declared in 2019, was “symbolic”, as ISIS has been only eliminated as a controlling power in populated areas. The daily attacks by ISIS fighters and cells throughout Syria, clearly indicate that the “Islamic State” is still alive and kicking. While the frequent security campaigns and military operations by regime forces, Russia, International Coalition, and SDF have all failed so far to curb or hinder ISIS’s escalating activities.

 

The Syrian Observatory also points out that it had already warned, well before “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant” declared itself as a “Caliphate State” in Syria and Iraq, that this organization did intend to work for the Syrian people and serve their interest, but rather ISIS continued to kill innocent Syrians, who had been suffering the brutality of war and violence and became displaced.

 

Furthermore, the “Islamic State” recruited children in the so-called “cubs of the caliphate”, controlled the wealth and resources of the Syrian people and harnessed them to build a “caliphate”, and traded openly back and forth with one of Syria’s neighbouring countries.