The Islamic State-affiliated Amaq news agency released a statement, showing the record of the so-called Islamic state’s attacks in Syria and other countries.
The statement, which was issued on Thursday, 23 January, said that the Islamic State (ISIS) launched between 16 and 12 January 2020 (within only a week), 16 military attacks in Syria.
The statement pointed out that these attacks targeted the sites, elements, and officers of the Syrian regime forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The attacks were intensified in the provinces of Raqqa, Deir Ezzor, and al-Hasakeh, where resulted in the deaths of 58 members of the regime and the SDF, including officers and leaders.
According to the statement, the ISIS carried out 11 military attacks in Deir Ezzor, three attacks in Deir Ezzor, and two attacks in al-Hasakah.
However, US Special Envoy for Syria James Jeffrey said that his country has not detected an escalation of ISIS activities in Syria and Iraq recently.
In a press conference held on Thursday, 23 January, at the US State Department in Wahington, Jeffrey stressed that the US, weeks after the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the infamous commander of Iran’s Quds Force, has not seen an escalation in the activities of the ISIS.
Jeffrey pointed out that the Iraqi forces continue to coordinate and exchange information about the ISIS with the international coalition led by the United States of America.
The US-led coalition suspended its operations in Iraq and its work is limited to protect the American soldiers.
The ISIS has increased its activities since the beginning of this year through military attacks, targeting the SDF and the Syrian regime forces, according to data published by Amaq news agency.
The number of attacks that the ISIS claimed responsibility for or was accused of against the SDF and the Syrian regime forces in Deir Ezzor, Raqqa, Homs and al-Hasakah in the first two weeks of 2020, amounted to more than ten.
The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (NES) warned of the re-emergence of ISIS, calling for establishing an international tribunal to prosecute ISIS fighters, according to a statement issued by the NES on 7 January 2020.
The statement renewed the call of the NES for the creation of an international court to prosecute the ISIS fighters held in its prisons.
According to the statement, the ISIS has more than 10,000 fighters as well as tens of thousands of their families coming from more than 50 countries.
The statement considered that “an international court must be conducted in the area of the NES in light of the availability of evidence, witnesses and victims. Furthermore, there must be international cooperation in this file as it is the responsibility of the entire world.”