Sleeper Cell Report February 2026 – ISIS vows to open ‘new phase’ of operations in Syria

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Key Points:

  • Nine attacks kill eight and injure six
  • Three raids lead to nine arrests
  • Coalition completes transfer of 5700 detainees from NES to Iraq
  • Al-Hol Camp almost empty after releases and escapes

 

In Depth

With the Syrian transitional government now effectively in control of all north and east Syria, in February ISIS spokesman, Abo Huzeifa Al-Ansary, released a rare recorded statement. He  announced that ISIS has started a “new phase of operation” in Syria, targeting the “new Syrian regime.” To that end, after the statement the group carried out nine attacks within the 2025 DAANES borders from February 18. These attacks killed eight and injured five military personnel and injured another civilian. Three raids by transitional government forces in response led to nine arrests of suspected ISIS members. Much of this activity has remained focused in Deir ez-Zor.

Notably, among some of those arrested were two members of the general security forces and several men that security forces allege were former ISIS members. Fears that ISIS operatives may infiltrate parts of the Syrian state were voiced in December when a member of the general security forces opened fire on U.S. soldiers and their interpreter in Palmyra, killing four and injuring five.

34 Australians – 11 women and 23 children – were due to be repatriated from Roj Camp. Their departure was cancelled by Syrian authorities due to “coordination issues” according to North Press. The topic of repatriations of ISIS-affiliated individuals to Australia has been hotly debated there in recent months after a group of women and children escaped al-Hol Camp and made their way back to Australia.

After Syrian Democratic Forces and Asayish withdrew from al-Hol in January, escapes, riots and protests have led to the camp almost being emptied. The Wall Street Journal reported U.S. intelligence agencies estimate between 15,000-20,000 ISIS linked individuals have fled the camp through escapes or been released since January 20. The remaining families will be moved to another camp near Aleppo as the Syrian government moves to close al-Hol.

Meanwhile Coalition forces led by the U.S. completed the transfer of around 5700 ISIS prisoners to Iraq. Iraq has appealed to the international community, particularly western and Middle Eastern states, to repatriate their foreign nationals among these prisoners. Russia, Morocco and Turkey have all announced their intention to repatriate their citizens from Iraq. The Netherlands however refused to do the same, citing national security concerns.

Elsewhere, a UN official warned the Security Council that ISIS attacks have risen around the world in the last six months. The group has been deploying increasingly sophisticated fundraising and propaganda campaigns alongside attacks across Africa, the Middle East and several western countries. This increase in attacks has not been reflected in north and east Syria however.