File image.
On December 26, two fighters from Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and four others from its security wing, Asayish, were killed in an attack by ISIS terrorists in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa.
The attack targeted an Asayish security center in the direct of Diriyah. ISIS terrorists gunned down the guards then stormed the center, where suspected members of the terrorist group are usually held. An intense gun battle broke out inside and around the security center. Ten SDF and Asayish personnel were wounded in the clashes.
ISIS said that the Inghimasi [suicide] attack was carried out by two of its members, and went on to claim that one of them managed to retreat unharmed. However, Asayish said in a statement that a terrorist was killed, a second was captured and several others managed to flee.
After the attack, the SDF announced a curfew in Raqqa city, while Asayish launched a combing operation around its security center. Two additional attackers were allegedly apprehended in the first hours of the operation.
In a s statement released by its official news agency, Amaq, ISIS said that the attack was carried out to avenge “Muslim prisoners”, especially women being held by the SDF in the infamous al-Hawl camp in al-Hasakah.
A photo of the two attackers released by Amaq.
The terrorist attack came amid reports of a near return of United States-led coalition forces to Raqqa. The coalition abandoned all of its bases in the governorate and in neighboring Aleppo in October of 2019 in order to facilitate a Turkish ground operation against the SDF, its main proxy in northern Syria.
The U.S.-led coalition could use ISIS attack as an excuse to return to Raqqa. The coalition has already resumed patrols in the governorate.
