The Kurdish-led and US-backed SDF fought the lion’s share of the battle against ISIS and ultimately defeated the jihadists territorially in their last bastion of Baghouz in 2019. They are now in control of numerous detention facilities that house tens of thousands of veteran ISIS fighters.
“This victory marked a turning point in the ongoing battle against ISIS, yet the remnants of its cells continue to pose a persistent threat to the security and stability of northern and eastern Syria. This requires enhanced efforts and regional and international cooperation in intelligence and security to prevent its resurgence,” the SDF said in a statement.
It further warned that ISIS is attempting to “exploit the circumstances” such as attacks by Turkey and Turkish-backed groups on SDF positions in northern Syria, as well as increased instability following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, to increase its attacks.
“ISIS thrives in environments of chaos, void, and instability,” the Kurdish-led force stated.
The SDF, which controls northeast Syria (Rojava), has sought to prevent the jihadists from reestablishing their presence in the country’s evolving security landscape. It has repeatedly warned that its ability to combat ISIS in the east is being undermined by an offensive by Turkey and its allied militias in the north.
“Sustained political and military support is needed to prevent ISIS from exploiting Syria’s instability and reorganizing its ranks. The security of both the region and the world depends heavily on stopping its resurgence,” the SDF reiterated.
Rojava also houses the notorious al-Hol camp, where some 40,000 ISIS-linked people are held. The camp has been branded a breeding ground for terrorism and Kurdish authorities have repeatedly called on the international community to repatriate their citizens.
