Recent ISIS raid on a Syrian jail to free its prisoners raised the concerns over the groups’ potential revival from the ashes of “caliphate”.
ISIS raid on a Syrian jail housing over 3,000 of the group’s militants and 700 youngsters would be a tragedy. A UN authority, referring to the issue, added that the possibility highlights the necessity for immediate planning and response.
Vladimir Voronkov also emphasized that the horrific siege highlights the need to encounter people with potential affiliations within the jails. United Nations Under-Secretary-General was referring to the north-eastern regions of Syria in his Security Council address.
ISIS has been promoting and advocating for jailbreaks in the past months, according to Voronkov. “There have been previous instances in Syria and elsewhere in the world,” he further explained.
The majority of people in Syrian jails and camps with purported ties to ISIS have never faced a criminal jurisdiction. These groups have been mostly in arbitrary detention with no decision on their fate in the long run.
The developments also explain the underlying reasons behind ISIS’ bid to root itself in the Syrian soils. ISIS’ danger is expanding, according to UN Secretary-General, especially in Syria. The group has organized itself into small cells hiding in wasteland and rural regions, while moving across the Iraq-Syria borderlines to escape arrest and have the chance to attract more followers, sympathizers, or donors.
The recent assault on a jail in the Syrian Hassakeh in the North-East was the largest since the group fell apart in three years ago. The conflict had an impact on civilians and ended in the retreat of an unspecified group of fighters. ISIS has once conquered large parts of Syrian soils and Iraqi regions before being devastated by the government with the help of foreign regional forces.
ISIS Raid and Third-Party Obligations
US-backed Kurdish troops claimed control over the final part of the ISIS-controlled jail a day after the assault. They also released a group of small captives who had been human shields. The truth, however, is that the threat is far from over.
Revelations about the civilian youngsters’ captivity is appalling. Using underage people as human shields is reminiscent of the dark days of ISIS dominance in Syria.
“Although the group’s barbarism should come as no surprise, these children have been left prey to be used and abused in this way,” Voronkov explained. Voronkov repeated the necessity of repatriation of ISIS militants and their families in jails and camps.
The UN continues to promote the repatriation of foreign citizens from the two countries. The highest international regulatory organization believes that any country should take the responsibility about its nationals who joined the ISIS in the past.
ISIS bid to liberate its warriors from jail highlight the urgency of their trial process in a safe zone. This might relieve the concerns and end “the cycle of bloodshed” in Syria and Iraq.
Russia demanded investigation on ISIS raid against prisons in the wake of growing concerns. Russia deputy ambassador to the United Nations charged Washington with dual-playing in Syrian battle-field. The US reportedly used the air force to clear prisons off ISIS forces against the humanitarian regulations.
US game-play is reminiscent of its role in generation and development of ISIS during the first half of the 2010s. with the advent of new democratic government in the White House, Washington seems to be taking a similar approach.
ISIS raid might not significantly impact Syrian security in the short term. However, if not reigned, any future step might prove late.
