NE Syria: June breakdown of ISIS sleeper cell attacks and SDF raids

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Data was produced in collaboration with OSINT researcher Caki.

Get in touch for the full searchable data set-live map is here

This month’s key findings:

  • 85 ISIS sleeper cell attacks across north east Syria, down 48% month-on-month.
  • Attacks down 30% in Deir ez-Zor region as at least 37 SDF raids gradually secure region still seeing daily sleeper cell attacks.
  • High rate of attacks in previously peaceful Jazirah region (15) with multiple attacks striking de-facto capital Qamishlo.
  • ISIS uses execution of children, VBIEDs, attacks in peaceful areas far from Deir ez-Zor to spread terror despite SDF crackdown.
  • June was marked by a general decrease in ISIS sleeper-cell activity following the most widespread SDF-led and Coalition-backed raids to date. Attacks fell 48% across the region and 30% in Deir ez-Zor, where SDF raids were concentrated.

Rates remained high in the Euphrates region incorporating Raqqa and Tabqa (15 down from 17), and in the previously-peaceful Jazirah region (15 down from 19), but there were notable decreases in Deir ez-Zor and Manbij (9 down to 4).

The month saw 25 armed attacks and ambushes, 31 IED and explosive attacks, 9 assassinations, five kidnappings, four car bombs, four motorbike bombs, three RPG attacks. One decapitation and one execution of a child.

Of particular note were car- and motorbike-bombings in Qamishlo, and continued attacks in Hasakah.

RIC researcher Joan Garcia said: “Following a heavy SDF-led and Coalition-backed crackdown in the newly-liberated Deir ez-Zor region, ISIS are launching more attacks in the heart of the autonomous region.

“Such attacks are an attempt to sow division among co-existing peoples in North East Syria and shatter the fragile peace in the region, and we expect to see more and more deadly assaults like this in the coming months as ISIS, the regime and the Turkish state all turn the screw on North East Syria.”

As ever, you can contact us for the fully-sourced data-set sortable by incident type and location, live map showing all ISIS sleeper cell attacks and SDF raids since the start of the year, and further analysis.

Note: Following internal review of our methods, we are no longer publishing figures on number of deaths due to the difficulty of obtaining accurate figures and inflated ISIS casualty claims.