Coalition sends additional armored vehicles to northeast Syria
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The US-led coalition against ISIS recently sent additional armored vehicles to assist the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the fight against ISIS.
Additional armored vehicle capability has arrived in Northeast Syria. This will enable our SDF partners to provide combat capabilities in our continuing
— Inherent Resolve (@CJTFOIR) February 18, 2022
mission to defeat Daesh. #AdviseAssistEnable pic.twitter.com/kC4kBZsHY6
"This will enable our SDF partners to provide combat capabilities in our continuing mission to defeat Daesh (ISIS)," tweeted the official account of the coalition on Saturday.
The additional support comes after the SDF foiled a major ISIS attack on the Hasakah prison in late January.
The US-led coalition in 2020 redeployed Bradley Fighting Vehicles to northeastern Syria as a deterrent to Russian threats.
Also, last October, the Bradley vehicles carried out joint patrols with the SDF in Hasakah near a prison holding ISIS members to improve security in the area.
Read More: Coalition Bradley vehicles patrol near SDF-held prison
When Daesh attacked a prison in Syria, they were quickly countered by the Syrian Democratic Forces/@cmoc_sdf, who overwhelmingly killed or captured Daesh fighters.
— The Global Coalition (@coalition) February 17, 2022
See how the SDF ensured Daesh failed in their objectives: pic.twitter.com/pTpbWu4HRk
After ISIS attacked the Hasakah prison on Jan. 20, the coalition supported the SDF with Bradley vehicles and Apache attack helicopters.
Heavy weapon units of the SDF and armored units of the US-led coalition also carried out joint military exercises in Abu Khashab, in the western countryside of Deir al-Zor, the SDF press center said in a press release on Saturday.
"These military exercises aim at testing new tactics to fight Daesh cells, training on methods of providing swift support to military points, transporting soldiers to the clash areas, confronting possible attacks, and destroying fixed and mobile targets," read the release.
"These exercises underscore the partnership between our forces and the international coalition to address the threat of Daesh (ISIS) terrorism and ensure the security and stability of the region."
Despite the SDF and the US-led coalition announcing the defeat of ISIS's so-called caliphate on Mar. 23, 2019, ISIS sleeper cell attacks continue in the liberated areas.
According to the latest yearly report by the Syria-based Rojava Information Center (RIC), published on Wednesday, the majority of ISIS activity in 2021 was in the Arab-majority regions of northeast Syria.
"This was especially true in Deir ez-Zor (Deir al-Zor), where ISIS continued to intermittently exercise power over civilians by imposing taxes, setting up moving checkpoints, and trying to impose Sharia law on an ad hoc basis," read the report.
Recently, the SDF carried out several operations in Deir al-Zor with coalition support.
Read More: US-backed SDF forces arrest two ISIS suspects in Deir al-Zor
These recent operations come in the wake of the large-scale ISIS attack on al-Sina'a prison on Jan. 20, which sought to free the 3,000 to 3,500 suspected terrorists held there.
While detainees rioted inside the prison, ISIS tried to blow the prison open with an explosive-laden car. The attack highlighted the continued danger of ISIS sleeper cells in northeast Syria.
Read More: US-led coalition says SDF cleared Hasakah prison from enemy fighters
The SDF announced on Jan. 30 that it had fully recaptured al-Sina'a after the remaining ISIS fighters there surrendered.