File image.
Nine fighters of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were reportedly killed in two separate attacks by ISIS cells in Deir Ezzor.
Late on February 9, a group of ISIS terrorists infiltrated a key position of the SDF near the town of al-Shheell in the southeastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. The terrorists captured five fighters of the SDF’s Deir Ezzor Military Council who were manning the position.
The five fighters were executed on the spot by the terrorists, who later shared footage showing some of the weapons they seized during the infiltration.
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On February 10, ISIS terrorists attacked again. This time the target was a position of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), the leading faction of the SDF, located near the town of Jazarat Albu Shams in the northwestern Deir Ezzor countryside.
The terrorists killed four YPG fighters during the attack. Nevertheless, two of them were captured and another blew himself up.
The two bold attacks in al-Shheell and Jazarat Ablu Shams highlight ISIS growing influence within SDF-controlled areas in northeastern Syria.
The January 20 ISIS attack on al-Hasakah prison has already proven that SDF is incapable of securing the northeastern region. To this day, the SDF is still pursuing hundreds of terrorists who run away during the attack. On February 9, one of these escapees blew himself up in in al-Hasakah city after being cornered by SDF fighters.