
Update December 4: Northern Syria Offensive
Focus, NewsHighlights
- As displaced families continue to pour in to NES, the DAANES estimates that numbers of IDPs will soon reach 120,000.
- Critical shortages of essential supplies, food, water, medicines and accommodation for IDPs.
- SNA commits…

Report: ISIS sleeper-cell attacks reach record low despite mass releases, multiple Hol Camp fatalities
News, Report, Sleeper Cells
Releases from Hol Camp have not led to more sleeper cell attacks, though the camp itself is still a flashpoint
Key Points
- November 2020 saw the lowest number of sleeper-cell attacks since records began since ISIS' territorial defeat…

Report: ISIS sleeper-cell attacks down, Hol Camp and Deir-ez-Zor remain flashpoints
News, Report, Sleeper Cells
An Iraqi IDP caught in the crossfire during an attempted ISIS shooting in Hol Camp, November 2020 (Picture credit: NPA)
Key Points
Overall attacks decreased 11% (51, 45) in October, with 69% of those attacks taking place in Deir-ez-Zor…

Database: Former ISIS members now part of Turkish-backed forces in Sere Kaniye and Tel Abyad
News, Report, Sleeper Cells
Download the full report here.
It's one year since Turkey launched its devastating 'Peace Spring' operation, green-lit by Donald Trump and primarily targeting the Kurds in North and East Syria. The invasion displaced an initial wave…

Report: Counter-ISIS raids and attacks in Hol Camp increase as amnesty for ISIS-linked women announced
News, Report, Sleeper Cells
Body of an Iraqi refugee, shot dead by ISIS sleeper cells active within Hol Camp
Key Points
- Rate of anti-ISIS raids increases 118% (11, 24) in response to demand by local communities
- 4 raids took place in Hol Camp, plus 6 attacks…

Report: US-Russian tensions and killing of top sheikh drive rise in ISIS sleeper cell and Syrian Government militia attacks
News, Report, Sleeper Cells
Coalition, SDF and AANES officials have all been meeting with tribal figures in Deir-ez-Zor in the context of rising tensions and security challenges
Key Points
- Assassination attempts doubled in August (7 to 14) including…

Report: ISIS attacks falling despite anger over top sheikh’s assassination
News, Report, Sleeper Cells
Deir-ez-Zor continues to be the focus of ISIS-claimed attacks in North and East Syria
Attacks on village chiefs and people connected to AANES continued, claiming 7 lives in July and leading to protests and violence in Deir-ez-Zor in early…

Sweeping SDF and Coalition raids drive fall in ISIS sleeper-cell attacks
News, Report, Sleeper Cells
Sleeper-cell attacks fall 46% in North and East Syria as SDF conducts week of raids arresting 110 ISIS suspects
Assassinations nonetheless increase 63% and injuries 41%, but number of deliberate crop-fires drops 60% as harvest is collected
ISIS…

Wave of arson attacks add to growing sleeper-cell threat in North and East Syria
News, Report, Sleeper Cells
In May, both joint SDF and Coalition raids and sleeper-cell raids increased. Raids increased 86% (22 up to 41), even before the start of June’s massive anti-ISIS operation in Deir-ez-Zor. Total attacks increased 110% (40 up to 84),…

Report: ISIS assassinations rise as Turkish-backed sleeper-cell groups launch new attacks
Report, Sleeper Cells
Turkish-controlled faction Ahrar al-Sharqiya claimed sleeper cell attacks in North and East Syria for the first time this month
April saw a 16% decrease in ISIS sleeper-cell attacks (48 to 40), whereas joint SDF and Coalition raids increased…

Report: anti-ISIS arrests and raids drop as tensions over COVID-19 rise
Archive, Coronavirus Crisis, News, Report, Sleeper Cells
Arrests of ISIS members in North and East Syria dropped to almost nothing in March, despite continued attacks
March saw decreases across the board - in terms of attacks, raids, deaths and arrests - suggesting COVID-19 has distracted SDF…
