Sleeper-Cell Report April 2026 – Pro-ISIS slogans found written on the wall of a girls school in Daraa

Key Points:

– A total of nine ISIS sleeper-cell attacks recorded in former DAANES territory, a 25% decrease from March

– Only one raid took place, and arrests of suspected ISIS-affiliates dropped by 94% with only one recorded arrest compared to 12 in March

– ISIS cells conducted an attack in Aleppo killing one military personnel and one civilian

– Slogans in support of ISIS were found written on the walls of a school in Daraa

*Disclaimer: Our sleeper-cell reports will continue to focus on and collect data from regions previously under the authority of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) such as the Deir ez-Zor countryside, Raqqa, and Tabqa despite the fact that these regions are now under the Syrian Transitional Government (STG).

In Depth:

This month, the Rojava Information Center (RIC) recorded a total of nine sleeper-cell attacks, all took place in the region of Deir ez-Zor, besides one in Raqqa. These attacks killed one civilian and injured two STG members. Only one raid was conducted in April, resulting in the arrest of an individual formerly affiliated with an ISIS cell.

Throughout April, sleeper-cell attacks targeted multiple civilians and two members of the Syrian government’s security forces. The attacks resulting in the injury of security personnel took place on April 13 and 18. In one incident, ISIS cells targeted a military vehicle in the Raqqa countryside and subsequently a member of security forces was targeted in front of his home in Deir ez-Zor countryside.

On April 7, an ISIS member targeted an oil facility with small arms, killing guard who was employed at the facility in town of al-Shuhail in the Deir ez-Zor countryside. On April 18, ISIS claimed another attack in which an oil tanker was targeted near the town of Mekmen in northern Deir ez-Zor. Civilian residential areas came under fire this month due to people’s refusal to pay ISIS ‘Zakat,’ a mandatory Islamic tax. Civilian homes, and a bakery sustained material damage in the course of sleeper-cell attacks.

Internal Security Forces carried out a security operation in Mohaimida Town, Deir ez-Zor countryside, where an individual formerly belonged to ISIS cells was arrested.

Elsewhere in Syria, on April 28, ISIS mercenaries claimed responsibility for the killing of a member of STG Ministry of Defense and one civilian in an attack in al-Raiy, Aleppo countryside. Additionally, five other members of the Defense ministry were injured.

In the city of Daraa, unidentified individuals wrote slogans supporting ISIS on the wall of a girls school in the city of Daraa. This sparked backlash among the residents who claimed the message was dangerous and targeting the entire community.

RIC researcher, Robin Fleming, said:

“Despite the fact, sleeper-cell attack rates have been low throughout 2026 concerns remain that the STG won’t be able to sufficiently counter the threat of ISIS. Attacks may have been low in April, but raids and arrests of cells were even lower, as arrests plummeted by 94%.”