ISIS: Main developments in Syria in the Second half of January 2015

ISIS: Main developments in Syria in the Second half of January 2015

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Main developments in Syria

The intensity of the fighting in Syria was low this week as well, probably due to the poor weather conditions.

Kobani (Ayn al-Arab)

During the week, the battles in Kobani continued. On January 13, 2015, it was reported that at least eight ISIS operatives were killed in an attack in the city. On January 14, 2015, a Twitter account affiliated with ISIS reported the death of an ISIS operative of Canadian origin named John Maguire, AKA the Canadian Abu Anwar. This operative first appeared in December 2014 in a video threatening that terrorist attacks would be carried out on Canadian soil. Another operative, codenamed the Dagestani Abu Saad, was killed along with him.

On January 18, 2015, ISIS issued a video of the fighting in the area of Kobani. It is evident from the video that the presence of ISIS operatives in the region is relatively sparse and they are probably at a disadvantage. One of them was heard to say: “Allah, bring us the victory. After the difficulty, it will be good.”  The video clearly shows the destruction in the area and an aircraft (apparently belonging to the coalition forces) can be seen in the air.

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Deir al-Zor

Fighting between the forces of the Syrian regime and ISIS operatives in the area of the Deir al-Zor airfield. It was reported that the fighting caused fatalities on both sides (Al-Durar al-Shamiya, January 18, 2015). It was also claimed that ISIS operatives had shot down a UAV of the coalition forces (Al-Minbar al-I’lami al-Jihadi Forum, January 19, 2015).

Aleppo

In the province of Aleppo, clashes were reported between Free Syrian Army forces and ISIS forces following an attempt by ISIS to capture land in rural Aleppo. A website affiliated with ISIS documented ISIS operatives fighting southeast of Aleppo.

Al-Raqqah

According to reports by the local coordinating committees from January 19, 2015, ISIS has closed the Syrian Red Crescent headquarters in the city of Al-Raqqah and confiscated the medical equipment and vehicles there.

Idlib

On its official Twitter account in the Idlib region, the Al-Nusra Front reported that its operatives had shot down an aircraft belonging to the Syrian Air Force. They said the aircraft, an Ilyushin, was carrying ammunition, food and water, and flew over the Abu Zohour military airfield. Syrian government officials confirmed that the aircraft had crashed but claimed that the crash was due to harsh weather conditions. It was reported that 39 soldiers died in the crash (Syrian News Agency; Al-Mayadeen, January 17, 2015).

Written by: The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center