In the northern countryside of Aleppo, the factions of the “Free Army” have announced capturing an “Islamic State” affiliate cell, after it entered the area from the regions controlled by the “Syrian Democratic Forces” (SDF).
Enab Baladi’s reporter in rural Aleppo has today, Wednesday (September 19), said that the “Ahrar al-Sharqia” faction has captured a cell near one of the refugee camps in rural Aleppo.
A commander of the faction was quoted as saying that the cell constitutes of five personnel, including a commander, who managed to arrive at the Shamarin camp after they passed through the Awn al-Dadat checkpoint, the rural parts of the city of Jarabulus, after getting the help of smugglers who facilitated their way in.
The commander said that the cell came from the areas held by the “Syrian Democratic Forces” (SDF), pointing out that they are being investigated now, and the first information delivered indicate that they were planning to enter the Turkish territories.
In the past months, the cities and towns of northern rural Aleppo were a target for several explosive devices and car bombs, and the blame was pointed at “Islamic State” and “SDF” affiliate cells as the responsible entity for the bombings.
The reporter stated that the incident of capturing the cell is not the first of its kind for several similar incidents happened before, pointing out to the smugglers who are transporting the “Islamic State” troops from the Kurdish forces’ control areas to the Turkish territories.
Turkey supported the “Free Army” factions in the northern and eastern countryside of Aleppo to seize large areas from the grip of the “Islamic State,” the last of which was the city of al-Bab and the towns and the villages surrounding it.
Following the control over the northern countryside of Aleppo, several campaigns were launched as to capture sleeper cells affiliated with the “Islamic State,” the last of which took place in the city of Jarabulus, early this year.
Late in 2017, the local councils at the northern countryside of Aleppo have issued a decree providing for preventing the “Islamic State” troops and their wives from returning to the cities and towns of northern rural Aleppo.
According to the decree, the return of any of the armed troops who functioned under the “Islamic State” with their families was prohibited regardless of the circumstances.
The women married to “Islamic State” troops or those who are married to former “Islamic State” troops are also not allowed to enter the city.