According to recent leaks, #ISIS's evolved administrative structure is ruffling some internal feathers in the #MiddleEast.
The crux of internal tensions lies in the increasingly blurry lines of authority over operations, leadership succession & resource use in #Iraq & #Syria.
The crux of internal tensions lies in the increasingly blurry lines of authority over operations, leadership succession & resource use in #Iraq & #Syria.
Leaks claim #ISIS's "Ardh al-Mubarakah" office manages operations in #Syria, #Lebanon & #Turkey, while the Bilad al-Rafidayn office runs #Iraq.
The latter was also running ops in #Iran -- until recently at least, when #Iran was folded into the #Afghanistan "Al-Siddique" office.
The latter was also running ops in #Iran -- until recently at least, when #Iran was folded into the #Afghanistan "Al-Siddique" office.
These recent leaks - from normally reliable sources - claim Abu al-Hassan's succession in March 2022 was decided by the Ardh al-Mubarakah office, without any consultation with the Bilad al-Rafidayn office in #Iraq.
He then risked locating to #Daraa, also without any consolation.
He then risked locating to #Daraa, also without any consolation.
An intriguing element in the leaks is over the issue of #ISIS detainees in NE #Syria -- [10,000] men and [56,000] women & children.
The goal to free them has purportedly been assumed/directed to the authority of the #Iraq (Bilad al-Rafidayn) office, not #Syria.
= trouble.
The goal to free them has purportedly been assumed/directed to the authority of the #Iraq (Bilad al-Rafidayn) office, not #Syria.
= trouble.
The leaks claim the Jan 2022 assault on al-Sina prison in NE #Syria was planned & conducted by the #Syria office & took the #Iraq office by surprise.
Multiple attempts were made afterwards to re-clarify lines of responsibility, but the #Syria office has failed/refused to do so.
Multiple attempts were made afterwards to re-clarify lines of responsibility, but the #Syria office has failed/refused to do so.
The leaks imply -- but it's not completely clear -- that frequent reports of #ISIS militants infiltrating al-Hol is the result of actions undertaken by #Iraq office operatives.
Yet their brazen violence has triggered #SDF-US raids that have hit #Syria office cells (= tensions).
Yet their brazen violence has triggered #SDF-US raids that have hit #Syria office cells (= tensions).
My comment: it's hard to know how seriously to take these leaks, but they sound feasible.
It's probably most reflective of #ISIS's current status as a dispersed insurgency, but one growing in reach & attack capability. That's likely to cause areas of overlap & contradiction.
It's probably most reflective of #ISIS's current status as a dispersed insurgency, but one growing in reach & attack capability. That's likely to cause areas of overlap & contradiction.
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