SDF Concludes Anti-ISIS Operation In Northeastern Syria

On January 6, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) concluded a large-scale operation against ISIS cells in the northeastern Syrian governorate of al-Hasakah.

The Kurdish-led group launched operation, codenamed Al-Jazeera Thunderbolt, on December 29 with the main goal of securing the infamous al-Hawl camp in the eastern al-Hasakah countryside, where thousands of ISIS members and their relatives are being held. The United States-led coalition provided direct support for the operation.

A total of 154 suspected members of ISIS were detained in the course of the operation, according to a statement by the SDF.

102 of the suspects allegedly fought with ISIS, 27 supported the terrorist group’s cells and promoted its ideology, while the rest were engaged in general criminal activities.

“We announce the end of the combing campaign for Operation Al-Jazeera Thunderbolt … Our forces will continue their struggle and pursue terrorist cells through focused security operations as necessary,” the group’s statement reads.

The SDF said that Operation Al-Jazeera Thunderbolt was originally scheduled for November. However, threats from Turkey led to a delay. At the time, Ankara stepped up its air and artillery strikes on northeastern Syria in response to a deadly bombing in Istanbul that was blamed on Kurdistan Workers’ Party and the People’s Protection Units, the core faction of the SDF.

ISIS cells in al-Hasakah pose a serious threat to al-Hawl. Last September, the SDF foiled an attack on the camp with support from the U.S.-led coalition.

Nevertheless, the timing of Operation Al-Jazeera Thunderbolt suggests that it was carried out to strengthen the SDF case as a counter-terrorism force in response to Turkey’s threats as well as to justify the presence of U.S. forces in northeastern Syria for yet another year.

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