Annual Sleeper Cell Report 2023
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Open in new tab RIC’s annual North and East Syria ISIS sleeper cell report for 2023 breaks down the key events and statistics from the last year.
- Recorded attacks from ISIS sleeper cells fell 34% from 285 in 2022 to 189 in 2023.
- Number of casualties from these attacks also fell 32% from 362 in 2022 to 247 in 2023 – which is still higher than 2021’s 215.
- Numbers of SDF and Asayish raids – and subsequent arrests of suspected ISIS members – reached all time lows at 121 raids and 352 arrests.
- SDF raids targeted ISIS commanders as well as individuals responsible for finance and logistics networks.
- ISIS cells continued to wage a low-level insurgency concentrated in NES’ Arab-majority regions, in particular Deir ez-Zor.
- ISIS engaged in intimidation, targeting of tribal and political leaders and attacking those perceived as DAANES-linked.
- Massive drop in Hol camp murders – yet SDF, DAANES and Coalition figures continued to refer to the camp as a “ticking time bomb”, citing the ISIS organizational efforts inside, particularly towards children.
- DAANES announced plans to hold its own trials for foreign ISIS members held in NES prisons, responding to international inaction regarding repatriation.
- Turkish airstrikes disrupted counter-ISIS efforts.
