
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: anti-ISIS arrests and raids drop as tensions over COVID-19 rise
Archive, Coronavirus Crisis, News, Report, Sleeper Cells
Arrests of ISIS members in North and East Syria dropped to almost nothing in March, despite continued attacks
March saw decreases across the board - in terms of attacks, raids, deaths and arrests - suggesting COVID-19 has distracted SDF…
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…