-
ISIS... Warnings of Potential Return of Extremist Organization in Syria
-
The renewed threat of extremist organizations poses a major challenge to political stability in Syria, complicating reconstruction efforts and threatening a historic opportunity to overcome decades of
The American newspaper The New York Times reported that ISIS has shown renewed activity in Syria, where it has recruited fighters and doubled its operations, according to statements from United Nations and United States officials, adding a new element of instability to the scene in Syria.
This troubling development reflects the continued security threats in the region despite previous military victories over the organization, necessitating renewed vigilance from the international community and parties concerned with the Syrian file.
The newspaper explained: However, the organization remains far from the strength it had a decade ago, when it controlled eastern Syria and a large part of northern Iraq, but there is a risk, experts say, that the organization could find a way to free thousands of its hardline fighters detained in prisons guarded by the US-backed "SDF" forces.
The danger of the situation lies in the possibility of the organization exploiting security gaps and volatile conditions to release its members, which could lead to rebuilding its military and organizational capabilities in areas previously under its control.
The report noted that any serious return of the organization would undermine a rare opportunity in which Syria appears capable of overcoming a brutal dictatorship.
This warning raises questions about the resilience of the new security and military institutions in Syria and their ability to face multiple challenges, especially with the continuing economic and humanitarian crises ravaging the country.
The United States is counting on the new Syrian government to become a partner in confronting the renewed organization, and initial indicators were positive, as the authority moved based on American intelligence information to thwart eight ISIS plots in Damascus. However, the sectarian violence that occurred last month, in which hundreds of civilians were killed, showed the government's lack of control over some forces nominally under its command, according to the newspaper.
These contradictory developments point to major challenges facing the transitional phase in Syria, where the political will for change struggles with the heavy legacy of conflict and the multiple loyalties and interests of different parties on the ground.
Between 9,000 and 10,000 ISIS fighters and about 40,000 of their family members are being detained in northeastern Syria. The United States stated late last year that its army nearly doubled the number of its forces on the ground in Syria to 2,000 soldiers, and it appears that the numerous strikes it launched on the organization's strongholds in the Syrian desert in the past few months have alleviated the immediate threat.
The issue of detainees and their families represents a complex humanitarian and security dilemma, especially with many countries reluctant to retrieve their citizens who belong to the organization. This places an additional burden on the Kurdish forces responsible for guarding them under difficult conditions and limited resources, and the question remains about sustainable solutions to this growing problem.
