
Sleeper-Cell Report: Major operation in Hol Camp leads to high number of arrests
News, Report, Sleeper cells
Key Facts
In general, the number of attacks and raids saw no significant change between February and March, with 27 attacks and 15 raids in March, and 28 attacks and 16 raids in February.Sleeper-cell attacks claimed 33 lives in March,…

Report: High Arrests from SDF and Al Hol Murders Continue in February
Report, Sleeper cells
YAT Operator poses with captured suspects
28 Attacks across NES30 Deaths caused by attacks attributed to sleeper cells22 Attacks claimed by ISIS16 Raids by the SDF producing 124 arrests19 Deaths in Al Hol camp, 9 from a fire that started
RIC…

Report: High Value Arrest and High Profile Assassinations Kick Off New Year
Report, Sleeper cells
A YAT operator during a SDF ceremony
Key Facts
- 31 attacks causing 26 deaths
- ISIS claimed 29 attacks
- 20 killings in Al Hol Camp
- 13 raids producing 27 arrests
- High profile assassinations that included 2 women of the…

Annual Sleeper Cell Report 2020 – SDF and Coalition Diminish Capability of ISIS, Lower Attacks and Deaths Across the Region
Report, Sleeper cells
RIC_Report_SleeperCells2020_GraphsDownload
Politically, the AANES and SDF continue to walk a tight rope between their allies and enemies. From the US-led Coalition, the SDF remains its number one ally in the region for a sustained…

Report: ISIS sleeper-cell attacks reach record low despite mass releases, multiple Hol Camp fatalities
News, Report, Sleeper cells
Releases from Hol Camp have not led to more sleeper cell attacks, though the camp itself is still a flashpoint
Key Points
- November 2020 saw the lowest number of sleeper-cell attacks since records began since ISIS' territorial defeat…

Report: ISIS sleeper-cell attacks down, Hol Camp and Deir-ez-Zor remain flashpoints
News, Report, Sleeper cells
An Iraqi IDP caught in the crossfire during an attempted ISIS shooting in Hol Camp, November 2020 (Picture credit: NPA)
Key Points
Overall attacks decreased 11% (51, 45) in October, with 69% of those attacks taking place in Deir-ez-Zor…

Database: Former ISIS members now part of Turkish-backed forces in Sere Kaniye and Tel Abyad
News, Report, Sleeper cells
Download the full report here.
It's one year since Turkey launched its devastating 'Peace Spring' operation, green-lit by Donald Trump and primarily targeting the Kurds in North and East Syria. The invasion displaced an initial wave…

Report: Counter-ISIS raids and attacks in Hol Camp increase as amnesty for ISIS-linked women announced
News, Report, Sleeper cells
Body of an Iraqi refugee, shot dead by ISIS sleeper cells active within Hol Camp
Key Points
- Rate of anti-ISIS raids increases 118% (11, 24) in response to demand by local communities
- 4 raids took place in Hol Camp, plus 6 attacks…

Report: US-Russian tensions and killing of top sheikh drive rise in ISIS sleeper cell and Syrian Government militia attacks
News, Report, Sleeper cells
Coalition, SDF and AANES officials have all been meeting with tribal figures in Deir-ez-Zor in the context of rising tensions and security challenges
Key Points
- Assassination attempts doubled in August (7 to 14) including…

Report: ISIS attacks falling despite anger over top sheikh’s assassination
News, Report, Sleeper cells
Deir-ez-Zor continues to be the focus of ISIS-claimed attacks in North and East Syria
Attacks on village chiefs and people connected to AANES continued, claiming 7 lives in July and leading to protests and violence in Deir-ez-Zor in early…

Sweeping SDF and Coalition raids drive fall in ISIS sleeper-cell attacks
News, Report, Sleeper cells
Material damage to the Mala Jin (Women's House) in Deir-ez-Zor caused during an ISIS sleeper-cell attack
Sleeper-cell attacks fall
46% in North and East Syria as SDF conducts week of raids arresting 110 ISIS
suspectsAssassinations nonetheless
increase…

Wave of arson attacks add to growing sleeper-cell threat in North and East Syria
News, Report, Sleeper cells
In May, both joint SDF and Coalition raids and sleeper-cell raids increased. Raids increased 86% (22 up to 41), even before the start of June’s massive anti-ISIS operation in Deir-ez-Zor. Total attacks increased 110% (40 up to 84),…

Report: ISIS assassinations rise as Turkish-backed sleeper-cell groups launch new attacks
Report, Sleeper cells
Turkish-controlled faction Ahrar al-Sharqiya claimed sleeper cell attacks in North and East Syria for the first time this month
April saw a 16% decrease in ISIS sleeper-cell attacks (48 to 40), whereas joint SDF and Coalition raids increased…

Report: One year on from ISIS’ defeat, sleeper-cell attacks remain a deadly threat
News, Report, Sleeper cells
It’s been a
year since ISIS’ final territorial defeat by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)
and International Coalition in Baghouz on 23 March. But a comparison of the year-on-year
data shows ISIS remain as potent a threat as ever,…

Database: January 2020 sleeper-cell attacks and raids
Report, Sleeper cells
Key Facts:
Despite attack rates having decreased 40% since December (84, 50), ISIS and other sleeper-cell groups claimed 32 deaths - an increase of 78% compared to December.Increased targeting of Mukhtars (village elders) and council…