IDLIB, Syria — Cells affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) have been carrying out assassinations against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Deir ez-Zor, in eastern Syria. These cells have become widely active since the beginning of 2020 after their activities had subsided following the loss of their last stronghold, al-Baghouz, in eastern Deir ez-Zor in early 2019.

IS’ operations have varied since losing ground in the face of the US-backed SDF. They started with attacking checkpoints and centers affiliated with the SDF and turned to assassinating SDF operatives or collaborators with the SDF and planting roadside bombs to target the SDF.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) had reported on Sept. 11 that 576 fighters, civilians, oil field workers and officials in service agencies have been assassinated since June 2018 within four governorates, namely Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa and Hasakah, in addition to the Manbij area, in the northeastern Aleppo governorate, all of which are under the control of the SDF.

“Armed cells assassinated 201 civilians, including 15 children and 11 women, in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, the countryside of Hasakah, Raqqa city and its countryside, and the Manbij area, in addition to the assassination of 371 SDF fighters, including local leaders in the same areas, while four members of the international coalition [against IS] were killed, not to mention the dozens of wounded as a result of these assassinations,” SOHR added.