Nasser al-Hassan, a pseudonym for a local in the town of al-Shuhayl, 40 km east of Deir ez-Zor, told North Press that he and his community are scared of ISIS militants who use civilian settlements to target and attack checkpoints and military posts of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the town.

The situation in al-Shuhayl resembles towns like al-Busayrah and Diban, in eastern Deir ez-Zor. The three towns are among the most dangerous regions of Deir ez-Zor due to the intensive ISIS activity there. They have been dubbed the ‘Bermuda Triangle’.

Al-Hassan and his peers are unable to report the movements of ISIS militants walking among civilians. They fear ISIS militants will go after the “snitches” or target their family members, he said.

“The nature of this tribal region” is another reason for not reporting their actions, he explains. Reporting the movement of ISIS members belonging to any tribe would result in tribal disputes that might end up in tribal war. Therefore, most people prefer to stay silent rather than facing the consequences of “snitching on” someone, particularly since some militants are from their home town and still believe in the ideology of the group, while others are outsiders.

The eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor was the last ISIS stronghold. After fierce battles in Baghuz, the SDF and the US-led Global Coalition announced the defeat of the group in March 2019.

After declaring its defeat, ISIS cells that managed to escape from Baghuz joined militants hiding in the Syrian Desert and resumed their activities at night in SDF-held areas of eastern Deir ez-Zor.

The towns of al-Busayrah, al-Shuhayl, and Diban, located in the east, are subject to a breakdown in security and numerous ISIS attacks, mostly at night. The responsibility for pursuing these militants is placed on the SDF.

Source: North Press