U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment provide security support during mission on Sept. 9, 2018, at an undisclosed location in Syria. (Cpl. Gabino Perez/Marine Corps)
On November 6, US-led coalition warplanes dropped leaflets over the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, which is held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), warning the locals against cooperating with ISIS.
دير الزور|| الريف الشرقي
طيران التحالف الدولي يلقي منشورات فوق المدن و البلدات الخاضعة لسيطرة قسد تحذر بها الأهالي من التعاون مع التنظيم pic.twitter.com/Sq0ZEj6mxs
— همام عيسى (@humam_isa) November 6, 2021
The leaflets featured photos of US armored vehicles and fighters of the SDF as well as the number of a hotline for reporting ISIS activities.
“Oh ISIS organization members, coalition forces stand side by side with their brothers and sisters in the SDF, don’t martyr for those who won’t fight for you,” on the of the leaflets reads.
Another leaflet says: “Oh ISIS organization members, the SDF will not stop fighting for our sons and daughters, don’t waste your lives for leaders who won’t fight for you.”
ISIS cells stepped up their attacks on SDF fighters and affiliates in the eastern and southeastern countryside of Deir Ezzor in the last few weeks. Several people were killed or wounded by the terrorists.
Earlier this week, the US-led coalition dropped leaflets over the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, calling on the locals to provide information on “Munaf Ali al-Al,” an ISIS Emir [commander] who is responsible for some of the recent attacks on the SDF.
#الخابور #ديرالزور
التحالف الدولي يلقي منشورات ورقية تطالب الأهالي بالإبلاغ عن المدعو ” مناف علي العال” بتهمة أنه قيادي بتنظيم الدولة في قرية الزر شرق ديرالزور pic.twitter.com/osIclkWdQ5— الخابور (@alkhabour21) November 2, 2021
The US-led coalition and the SDF conduct counterterrorism operations in Deir Ezzor’s southern and southeastern countryside on a regular basis. Yet, ISIS influence there continues to grow.