Sleeper Cell Report July 2025 – Attempts at destabilizing the region continue as ISIS attacks civilians
Key Points:
- 18 confirmed sleeper cell attacks, three up from June
- Four civilians killed and two injured, and six military personnel killed and eight injured in ISIS attacks
- 14 raids were conducted, 70 arrested
- 879 Iraqis have been repatriated from NES
- The US repatriated a minor from a camp in NES
In Depth
This month, RIC recorded 18 sleeper cell attacks in North and East Syria (NES), up three from June. These attacks killed four civilians and injured two, and killed six military personnel and injured eight. In this month’s raids, 70 suspected ISIS members were arrested, including four emirs.
This month, sleeper cells stuck to mainly attacking military checkpoints, however attacks on civilians still persist, raising concern for their continuous attempts to destabilize the region. The bulk of the attacks took place in the Deir ez-Zor canton where ISIS remains a hotbed for sleeper cell activity.
The month started out with a string of attacks from July 1-3, all occurring in Deir ez-Zor, one in Muheimidah resulting in two civilians killed. Two attacks occurred on July 8, one in Deir ez-Zor and one in Raqqa on an oil investor. On the 13th, an attack on an Asayish checkpoint in Heseke left five military personnel dead. Another Asayish checkpoint was attacked three days later in Hissan, Deir ez-Zor that resulted in two military personnel injured. Three attacks occurred on the 25th, all in Deir ez-Zor which left one military personnel injured. Two attacks occurred in Deir ez-Zor on the 26th and two more on the 28th which resulted in one civilian killed and one injured, and one military personnel injured. An attack in Raqqa on July 28 left two military personnel injured. An attack in Shafaa, Deir ez-Zor left one civilian dead and one injured, and one military personnel dead.
SDF sweeping al-Hol camp
This month, the SDF and Asayish conducted 14 counter-ISIS raids, most of which had direct participation of the Coalition. These operations led to the arrest of 70 suspected ISIS members and weapons and contraband were seized. Two raids occurred in al-Hol camp. The bulk of arrests occurred in Raqqa, with 30 suspected-ISIS members arrested.
The arrested by TOL forces in July 2025
Iraq repatriated 812 of their nationals from al-Hol camp in July, marking its eighth repatriation mission of 2025. A total of 5,343 Iraqis have now been repatriated from al-Hol camp this year so far, as per RIC data. Additionally, 67 Iraqis were repatriated from al-Roj camp, totalling 879 Iraqis that have returned from NES in the month of July.
More residents of al-Hol camp left this month, 167 of them being from other parts of Syria such as Idlib, Raqqa, and Aleppo. The US allegedly repatriated a US minor from a camp in NES. In the press release announcing the return of this minor, the US Department of State also called for countries to repatriate their citizens, stating that: “The only durable solution to the humanitarian and security crisis in these displaced persons camps in northeast Syria is for countries of origin to repatriate, rehabilitate, reintegrate, and where appropriate, ensure accountability for their nationals.”
In international news, an ISIS member has been prosecuted in Swedish court for the killing of Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasasbeh that occurred in Syria 2015. This case sets a precedent for ISIS members being tried beyond the conflict zone.