BEIRUT: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), backed by the United States, marked the fifth anniversary since the defeat of the Daesh group in Syria by issuing a warning on Saturday. They emphasized that despite the group’s territorial loss, it still poses significant threats globally. The SDF urged the international community to address the thousands of Daesh fighters held in its detention facilities.
In their statement, the SDF highlighted the pivotal moment in March 2019 when they captured the village of Baghouz, effectively dismantling Daesh’s self-proclaimed caliphate. However, the recent claim by Daesh regarding the Moscow attack that left 133 people dead underscores the ongoing danger posed by the extremist group.
The SDF emphasized that Daesh sleeper cells and affiliates in Asia and Africa continue to carry out deadly attacks, aiming to revive their influence and regain control over certain areas. To counter this threat, the SDF stressed the need to dismantle the ideological foundation of Daesh.
Currently, the SDF holds approximately 10,000 captured Daesh fighters in detention facilities in northeast Syria, including 2,000 foreigners whose home countries have refused repatriation. Additionally, they oversee around 45,000 family members of Daesh fighters, mainly women and children, in the Al-Hol camp.
The SDF called for a global solution to address the issue of Daesh detainees, urging home countries to repatriate their nationals or establish an international court in northeast Syria for trials. They emphasized the urgency of addressing the situation at the Al-Hol camp, which they described as a “ticking time bomb” due to the ongoing radicalization of children within the camp.