Sleeper Cell Report August 2025 – ISIS persists in targeting security forces
Key Points:
- 22 confirmed sleeper cell attacks, three up from July
- Two civilians killed; 12 military personnel killed, ten injured
- Eight counter-ISIS raids conducted, 76 arrests
- Two women and five children repatriated from NES camps
In Depth
In August, NES experienced an increase in ISIS sleeper cell activity, with 22 confirmed attacks compared to 19 in July. These attacks resulted in two civilian and 12 military fatalities, with ten additional military personnel injured. Deir ez-Zor remained the epicenter of ISIS activity, though incidents were also reported in Heseke and Raqqa. While civilian casualties declined compared to previous months, the high military death toll demonstrates ISIS’ persistence in targeting security forces.
On August 1, the month opened with its single deadliest attacks, when five SDF fighters were killed. A series of attacks followed on August 5–6, including two targeting SDF members with an IED and machine gun fire, and a third attack on an oil tanker that caused injuries. In Al-Bahrah town, eastern Deir ez-Zor countryside, two SDF members were killed and another injured, prompting immediate SDF combing operations. Later, in Tayma’a village near Tal Hamis in Heseke, an SDF member was shot dead by ISIS sleeper cells.
On the 16th, a man from the Al-Busalih tribe and his wife were shot dead by gunmen reportedly affiliated with ISIS in Azman Debeis village, near Abu Khashab. Between August 20–25, three SDF members and one former member were killed in Deir ez-Zor, and the corpse of an Asayish member was found near Al-Abtakh village in Heseke. During this period in eastern Deir ez-Zor, gunmen believed to be linked to ISIS from Gharanij surrounded SDF members inside a pharmacy during an unofficial mission. Clashes resulted in one attacker killed and three injured, while six SDF fighters were kidnapped and a military vehicle seized. The abducted personnel were later released following swift SDF raids.
Although Raqqa witnessed relatively few attacks compared to other areas, Raqqa’s security forces imposed a partial nighttime curfew from midnight to 5 a.m.
YPJ forces at the Heseke operation
ISIS activity across NES in August prompted a series of coordinated counter-operations by the SDF, YPJ, and Asayish, many conducted with Coalition support. Over 3,000 SDF fighters participated in a major operation in Heseke leading to the detention of 51 ISIS-linked individuals. In total, eight raids across NES resulted in 76 arrests and the seizure of weapons and contraband. Other operations included 12 arrests in Gharanij, three in al-Hawayij, two in al-Razz village, and two in Dhiban.
The arrested with the seized contraband in the Heseke operation
Regular joint drills and training exercises between Coalition forces and the SDF throughout August enhanced operational coordination and readiness, strengthening ongoing efforts against ISIS sleeper cells.
Families departing al-Hol camp
August saw a significant number of repatriations. On August 28, 232 Iraqi families (approximately 850 individuals) were transferred from al-Hol camp to Iraq, one of the largest repatriations of the year. Additionally, two women and five children of foreign citizenship were repatriated: three children and one woman to Tanzania, one child to Britain, and one child and one woman to Brazil. Repatriation of third-country nationals remains limited, suggesting that international efforts are still falling short in effectively addressing the situation.
According to the UN Security Council briefing on 20 August, “Da’esh is still active in Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic, working to restore its operational capacity and renewing efforts to destabilize local authorities.” Despite leadership losses, the group “remains resilient”. Furthermore, Assistant Secretary-General Natalia Gherman highlighted that “Da’esh’s ability to adapt and exploit instability continues to pose significant challenges” amid a “diffuse and complex” global terrorist landscape, exacerbated by emerging technologies.