Click to see full-size image. Source: sdf-press.com
On January 9, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced that their fighters had uncovered a large weapons cache of ISIS in Syria’s northeastern region.
The cache was found in the village of al-Qairouan, which is located near the key town of Tel Hamees in the northeastern al-Hasakah countryside.
Several explosive belts, improvised explosive devices and large quantities of C4 high-explosives as well as dozens of AK-47-type assault rifles and gun silencers were found in the cache. Several communication devices and remote detonators were also seized.
The explosives and weapons were likely prepared by ISIS cells for a large-scale attack, similar to the one that targeted the al-Hasakah prison last year.
The cache was discovered just a few days after the SDF concluded Operation Al-Jazeera Thunderbolt, which targeted ISIS cells in several parts of the countryside of al-Hasakah. The town of Tel Hamees and its surroundings was among the main targets. More than 150 suspected members of ISIS were arrested during the operation, which was directly backed by the United States-led coalition.
ISIS influence in northeastern Syria is still strong. The terrorist group has been taking advantage of tensions between the Arab population and the Kurdish-led SDF to promote its ideology in the region. Meanwhile, the U.S.-led coalition remains mainly concerned with holding key gas and oil fields there.
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