Syria's post-Assad chaos reignites IS threat, warns SDF chief
The situation in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime favours the return of the Islamic State. According to the BBC, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, warns of increased IS activity and the threat of prison breakouts.
Chaos in Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime creates favourable conditions for the Islamic State's return. The commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazlum Abdi, emphasised in an interview with the BBC that IS activity has increased. "Activity by Daesh [IS] has increased significantly, and the danger of a resurgence had doubled," the Kurdish general warned.
He noted that there are now more opportunities and instances for this to occur. This may be facilitated by the fact that fighters have seized some weapons left behind by Syrian troops.
According to Abdi, there is a genuine threat that IS will attempt to break out around 10,000 group members from prisons in northeastern Syria. There are also about 50,000 of their family members in internment camps.
Intelligence reports indicate that Islamic State fighters have acquired some of the weapons and ammunition left by Syrian regime troops.
The general stressed that the Turkish offensive favours the resurgence of IS. Ankara views the People's Protection Units in Syria as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), whose fighters have been in conflict with the Turkish state for 40 years. Turkey and the armed groups it supports are attacking the area around the Kurdish city of Kobane.
The SDF had to divert some forces to defence, halting anti-terror operations against IS. Many prison guards returned home to defend their villages, the BBC explains.
"The number one threat is now Turkey because its airstrikes are killing our forces. These attacks must stop, because they are distracting us from focusing on the security of the detention centers," said General Abdi.
The risk of IS returning was also discussed by Iraq's foreign minister, Fuad Hussein, in a conversation with Hamish Falconer, the UK's deputy minister responsible for the Middle East and North Africa. The situation in the prisons and on the front line could affect security in both Syria and Iraq, he warned.
Syria has been the scene of a fierce conflict for years. Bashar al-Assad, after nearly 24 years in power, was forced to leave Damascus. His escape to Moscow was described in his statement as a decision made under the pressure of circumstances.
Assad spoke of an "intensified drone attack" that forced his evacuation. He left the country in chaos, as confirmed by a series of riots and attacks that erupted immediately after his departure.
