NEW - U.S. special forces launched a helicopter-borne raid in #Assad-controlled territory ~15km south of #Qamishli in NE #Syria overnight, killing a senior #ISIS leader & capturing several others alive.
That’s the 1st op in regime-held areas since Abu Ghadiya in Oct 2008.
That’s the 1st op in regime-held areas since Abu Ghadiya in Oct 2008.
Some local sources claim at least 2 of those captured alive were members of a local pro-#Assad militia — but that remains unconfirmed.
Not clear if the deconfliction line with #Russia was used. #Russian aircraft & personnel are stationed at #Qamishli airport, not far away.
Not clear if the deconfliction line with #Russia was used. #Russian aircraft & personnel are stationed at #Qamishli airport, not far away.
The #Qamishli area is an old stomping ground for #ISIS since AQI days, where #Assad’s Military Intel ran a ‘clearing house’ for AQI foreign fighters heading to #Iraq & for a time, a paramilitary training base.
From ‘03-‘08, 1,000s of AQI foreign fighters passed through the area.
From ‘03-‘08, 1,000s of AQI foreign fighters passed through the area.
From ‘03-‘08, ~87% of #AQI/ISI foreign fighters arrived in #Iraq via #Syria — most ferried to the border on #Assad government buses from #Damascus & #Aleppo airports.
90% of AQI/ISI suicide bombers came via #Syria, waved through border crossings by #Assad’s ‘border guards.’
90% of AQI/ISI suicide bombers came via #Syria, waved through border crossings by #Assad’s ‘border guards.’
When U.S. SOF crossed into #Syria to kill #AQI/ISI ‘Emir of the Borders’ Abu Ghadiya on Oct 2008, they were targeting a jihadist who worked wholly in coordination with #Syria Military Intel.
Abu Ghadiya’s favored HQ was in a large house in #Zabadani near the #Lebanon border.
Abu Ghadiya’s favored HQ was in a large house in #Zabadani near the #Lebanon border.
It was in that home in #Zabadani that Abu Ghadiya played host to meetings convened by #Assad’s intel chief Assef Shawkat to plan AQI/ISI bombing campaigns aimed at crippling #Iraq’s government in #Baghdad.
Those meetings involved AQI/ISI, #Iraq Baathists & #Syria intel leaders.
Those meetings involved AQI/ISI, #Iraq Baathists & #Syria intel leaders.
The extensive history of #Assad’s relationship with #ISIS & its predecessors is well-documented — I devote a large chapter to it in The Syrian Jihad, entitled ‘#Syria’s Flirtation with Jihadism.’
It’s a history all too often forgotten — but absolutely central to #ISIS’s history.
It’s a history all too often forgotten — but absolutely central to #ISIS’s history.
The deep & complex history between #ISIS & #Assad’s regime should cause serious concern about the “detainee dilemma” we’ve been facing since #ISIS territorial defeat in early-2019:
- The #SDF holds ~11,000 #ISIS fighters in ~20 makeshift prisons & ~56,000 women & kids in camps.
- The #SDF holds ~11,000 #ISIS fighters in ~20 makeshift prisons & ~56,000 women & kids in camps.
It's in fact quite likely that the overnight raid was the result of intel gleaned from a recent weeks-long #SDF raid of al-Hol camp.
The main target has been ID'd as Rakan Sa'ado al-Shammari (aka Abu Hayil) -- pictured here.
x2 pro-#Assad NDF militiamen were captured alive.
The main target has been ID'd as Rakan Sa'ado al-Shammari (aka Abu Hayil) -- pictured here.
x2 pro-#Assad NDF militiamen were captured alive.
.@CENTCOM confirms the overnight raid outside #Qamishli -- targeting Rakan al-Shammari & describes him as an #ISIS weapons & personnel smuggler.
the x2 "associates" detained were ID'd locally as pro-#Assad militiamen.
The op was almost definitely from al-Hol linked intel.
the x2 "associates" detained were ID'd locally as pro-#Assad militiamen.
The op was almost definitely from al-Hol linked intel.
NEW - A U.S precision airstrike in NE #Syria today killed #ISIS’s deputy emir for #Syria (described as “top 5” leader), Abu Ala’a & Abu Muwad al-Qahtani, another senior #ISIS leader.
Lots of new intel leads in #Syria lately — stacking up into a string of significant operations.
Lots of new intel leads in #Syria lately — stacking up into a string of significant operations.
UPDATE - @CENTCOM statement confirms earlier airstrike in “northern #Syria” that killed #ISIS #Syria deputy leader “Abu Hashum al-Umawi” (aka Abu Ala’a) and another “senior official.”
Busy 24hrs for @CENTCOM/@CJTFOIR/@SOJTF_LEVANT
Busy 24hrs for @CENTCOM/@CJTFOIR/@SOJTF_LEVANT
@CENTCOM @CJTFOIR @SOJTF_LEVANT 2 targeted ops against #ISIS in 24hrs are significant achievements, countering #ISIS's clear effort to prioritize #Syria in its attempt to recover.
The airborne raid near #Qamishli was done *without* deconflicting with #Russia.
My comments to @nytimes:
nytimes.com/2022/10/06/wor…
The airborne raid near #Qamishli was done *without* deconflicting with #Russia.
My comments to @nytimes:
nytimes.com/2022/10/06/wor…
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