Latest news with #MahmoudHabib
Rudaw Net
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
2000 ISIS militants active in Syria's desert: Brigade spox
Also in Syria Turkey demolishes historic military base amid peace talks with PKK US-backed forces to launch anti-ISIS operation in Syria: Brigade spox Syria expects to elect new parliament in August: Official SDF says 'disinformation campaign' seeks to undermine the force A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An estimated 2,000 Islamic State (ISIS) militants remain active in Syria's vast desert regions, a spokesperson for a faction aligned with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) warned in an interview with Rudaw, highlighting the group's ongoing efforts to regroup. The US-backed SDF serves as the de facto army of northeast Syria (Rojava). Mahmoud Habib, spokesperson for the North Democratic Forces - a component of the SDF - said on Tuesday, 'There are no fewer than 2,000 militants in the Syrian desert,' citing Western intelligence reports that indicate 'significant movements' among ISIS elements. The Syrian Desert, or Badiya, spans approximately 500,000 square kilometers, covering about 55 percent of Syria's total landmass. Located primarily in the country's southeast, it stretches across several key governorates, including Deir ez-Zor, Hasaka and Raqqa, as well as parts of Hama, Homs, and Rif Dimashq. Major cities, including Damascus and Palmyra, lie within or along the fringes of this vast arid region. Habib emphasized that the desert's rugged terrain and lack of consistent oversight provide ideal conditions for ISIS to regroup, operate, and finance its activities. 'The threat remains high, particularly for Syrian population centers and cities,' he warned. In response to the enduring ISIS threat, Habib predicted that the United States is likely to maintain its military presence in Syria for the foreseeable future. 'The presence of US forces in Syria has become a strategic decision for the US administration and is not expected to change anytime soon,' he said. Habib added that Washington is consolidating its presence by shifting to 'two massive bases in northeast Syria [Rojava]' to enhance operational efficiency and security.' This restructuring ensures continued support for the SDF's counter-terrorism efforts, he elaborated. "US forces are staying and [the forces in] these bases will be able to intervene in required tasks, whether air, ground, or operational,' he insisted. The remarks come despite the gradual reduction of US troops in Syria. Rudaw learned in early June that the US is gradually withdrawing troops from Syria, aiming to reduce its presence from roughly 2,000 to about 1,000 forces - a move then confirmed by a US defense official. The official noted that troop levels in Rojava remain flexible and will be 'adjusted according to the evolving security situation.' The remarks followed a mid-April announcement by Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell, who said the 'Secretary of Defense directed the consolidation of U.S. forces in Syria under Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve to select locations in Syria. 'This consolidation reflects the significant steps we have made toward degrading ISIS's appeal and operational capability regionally and globally,' he added, noting that 'this deliberate and conditions-based process will bring the U.S. footprint in Syria down to less than a thousand U.S. forces in the coming months.' Despite the reduction, Parnell stressed that the "U.S. Central Command will remain poised to continue strikes against the remnants of ISIS in Syria," Parnell added. Additionally, the spokesperson for the North Democratic Forces, Habib, also said that the SDF is working toward integration with the Syrian defense ministry. 'Joint committees are examining all the necessary details to achieve this integration,' he said, describing the effort as part of a broader initiative to build a unified, stable Syria free from extremist threats. This move aligns with the vision of SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi, who has advocated for a unified national army in Syria, Habib underlined.
Rudaw Net
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
US-backed forces to launch anti-ISIS operation in Syria: Brigade spox.
Also in Syria Syria expects to elect new parliament in August: Official SDF says 'disinformation campaign' seeks to undermine the force Damascus exhibition honors missing Syrians Syria's torture survivors face health crisis, funding shortfall: Amnesty A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US-backed forces in Syria are preparing to launch a large-scale military operation against Islamic State (ISIS) cells, a spokesperson for a faction aligned with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) told Rudaw on Sunday. The campaign comes amid a growing threat from ISIS across the country, especially in northeast Syria (Rojava). Mahmoud Habib, spokesperson for the North Democratic Forces - a component of the SDF - said the campaign is in response to a recent uptick in ISIS activities. 'The details of the operation are not yet known. We do not know when it will be launched, what its nature will be, or which forces will take part alongside the SDF and coalition troops,' Habib stated. The US-backed SDF functions as the de facto military force in Rojava and is the primary local partner of the Washington-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. The North Democratic Forces operate mainly in northern Syria and share the SDF's objective of combating terrorism. According to Habib, the upcoming operation may see the participation of other US-backed groups, namely, the Syrian Free Army (SFA). He noted that the campaign aims not only to dismantle ISIS cells but also to prevent potential attacks on major population centers, including the capital Damascus, its surrounding countryside, and the central Homs province. The Syrian Free Army (SFA), originally a broad rebel coalition, has evolved over the past decade from earlier US-backed groups such as the New Syrian Army (NSA) and the Revolutionary Commando Army (RCA). These factions were trained and supported by the US and have operated primarily from the al-Tanf garrison - a strategically located US military base near the Syrian, Iraqi, and Jordanian borders - carrying out counter-ISIS operations. Following the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in early December, the SFA is reportedly being integrated into the newly established 70th Division of the unified Syrian army, currently being formed by the incumbent transitional government. Importantly, Habib noted that the upcoming operation follows recent intelligence reports indicating that ISIS cells are planning attacks near urban areas. 'The goal of the operation is to stop these kinds of attacks,' he said. ISIS was territorially defeated in Syria in 2019. However, in recent months, the group has seemingly been trying to make a comeback, capitalizing on the shifting security landscape following Assad's ouster. Last week, a deadly bombing struck the Mar Elias Church in Damascus during Sunday mass. Two assailants opened fire on worshippers before detonating an explosive vest, killing 25 people and injuring 63 others, according to the Syrian health ministry's final toll. On Tuesday, the Syrian interior ministry attributed the attack to an ISIS cell. Ministry spokesperson Noureddine al-Baba claimed the two suicide bombers were 'non-Syrian' and had infiltrated the capital from al-Hol camp, located in SDF-controlled northeast Syria (Rojava). Al-Hol camp houses thousands of individuals, many of whom are family members of suspected ISIS militants. However, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) swiftly rejected the ministry's claims, emphasizing that al-Hol primarily shelters women and children rather than foreign fighters. The SDF also noted that any individuals released from the camp in recent months, were freed at the request of Damascus authorities. Notably, the upcoming military campaign also comes amid a surge of ISIS attacks across SDF-controlled areas, with both civilians and security forces increasingly being targeted. In mid-May, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that it had documented 84 ISIS operations in Rojava since the beginning of 2025. These included armed assaults, targeted assassinations, and bombings. SDF chief Mazloum Abdi has consistently warned of the enduring threat posed by ISIS. In January, he emphasized the urgent need to sustain counterterrorism efforts against ISIS 'if we don't want to see it make a comeback.'
