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ISIS moves to enter areas abandoned by government


The villages evacuated by the Syrian government forces are "unsecure", an Arab tribal figure in the southern countryside of Raqqa, north Syria, said on Saturday, warning of ISIS extension.

On January 25, the Syrian government forces evacuated their military points in seven villages in the southwest of Raqqa countryside.

Hamidi al-Amalah, the tribal leader of al-Wahab clan, told North Press that the US-led Global Coalition, as the strongest military forces in the region, is demanded to assist the locals to return to their hometown and secure their lands.

Since 2017, residents of some villages known as Resafa Desert in Raqqa countryside displaced as the Syrian government forces advanced to their areas. The people fled to Raqqa city and its countryside where the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are in control.

A local source from the region told North Press that evacuating the villages by the government forces raised public concern that ISIS sleeper cells would activate in tandem with the attack on al-Sina’a prison in Hasakah.

The tribal leader pointed that the villagers do not want to go back home while the Syrian government is in control, and while attacks that ISIS is likely responsible for continue in the region.

Over the last few years, ISIS attacks on government forces sites recurred in Resafa Desert in the south of al-Mansoura town. The attacks were frequently followed by Russian warplanes.

Farhad Shami, Director of the SDF Media Center, said Preventive measures were taken by the SDF in the vicinity of Raqqa.

"The reasons behind the eviction are doubtful, so forces have taken precautionary measures to prevent ISIS from benefiting from these evictions and posing a threat to the vicinity of Raqqa," Shami added.
Posted by: badanov 2022-01-30
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=623677