Sleeper Cell Report June 2025 – Iraqi nationals slowly empty out of al-Hol camp
Key Points:
- 15 confirmed sleeper cell attacks, down 17 from May
- Four civilians and three military personnel killed, one injured in ISIS attacks
- 944 Iraqis have been repatriated out of al-Hol camp
- 25 killed and 63 wounded in attack on a Greek Orthodox church of Damascus
In Depth
This month, RIC recorded 15 sleeper cell attacks in NES, down 17 from May. These attacks killed four civilians and three military personnel, and left one military personnel injured. In this month’s raids, seven suspected ISIS members were arrested, including a senior member.
This month, sleeper cells stuck to mainly attacking Asayish checkpoints, however a few of the attacks on civilians raise concern for their attempts to destabilize security and stability in the region. The bulk of the attacks took place in the Deir ez-Zor canton where ISIS remains a hotbed for sleeper cell activity.
On 1 June, ISIS attacked an Asayish vehicle on the Raqqa-Heseke road, killing three and injuring one. A string of attacks occurred from 2-11 June in various locations throughout Deir ez-Zor, all on Asayish or military posts. On 16 June, ISIS targeted oil tanks on the Raqqa-Heseke road. Two attacks occurred on 18 June in Deir ez-Zor, one in which killed an employee of the Civil Council of Muhaimidah. On 23 June, two civilians were shot dead by an ISIS cell in the town of Daranj, Deir ez-Zor. On 27 June, two attacks occurred in Deir ez-Zor, both on civilians. One was in a money exchange store in Shuhail against a civilian for refusing to pay “zakat” (taxes), and the other was on an oil truck near Dhiban. On 28 June, an oil investor was attacked in Hajna, Deir ez-Zor. On 30 June, a mill owner was killed in al-Harijiyah, Deir ez-Zor.
This month, the SDF and Asayish conducted five counter-ISIS raids, some of which had direct participation of the Coalition. These operations led to the arrest of seven suspected ISIS members and weapons and ammunition were seized.
One ISIS senior member was arrested by YPJ on 25 June in Shuhail, Deir ez-Zor. They thwarted plots to plant mines in the region and seized weapons and ammunition.
Iraqi families waiting to leave al-Hol camp
Iraq repatriated 944 of their nationals from al-Hol camp in June, marking its seventh repatriation mission of 2025. A total of 4,531 Iraqis have now been repatriated from al-Hol camp this year so far, as per RIC data.
On June 22, 25 were killed and 63 wounded in an attack on Greek Orthodox Mar Elias church in the Damascus suburb of Dweila. The Syrian Caretaker Government (SCG) Interior Ministry claimed that the attack was carried out by ISIS – two gunmen, one in which was a suicide bomber. The SCG Interior Ministry initially claimed that the attacker came from al-Hol Camp in NES. The SDF said their records do not indicate that the attacker was from al-Hol Camp.