Syrian Democratic Forces Commander Issues Warning of ISIS Resurgence Amidst Middle Eastern Tensions

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish militia group allied with the United States, have been working tirelessly to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Syria. However, recent escalations of attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed forces have impeded their efforts, leading to a spike in ISIS activity.

Gen. Mazloum Abdi Kobane, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, addressed this issue during a Zoom briefing on February 8, 2024. He warned that ISIS is taking advantage of the tensions in the Middle East and that there has been a significant increase in ISIS movements.

The SDF and the U.S. have been working together in Syria as part of the global coalition to defeat ISIS. The U.S. currently has approximately 900 troops in Syria, 2,500 in Iraq, and a few hundred in Jordan for this mission. These forces have been attacked at least 168 times by Iranian-backed groups since October 17, 2023.

Gen. Kobane expressed concern that if U.S. forces withdraw from Syria, there would be chaos and a gap that many actors would want to exploit. He has been reassured by U.S. officials that the U.S. is not planning on withdrawing from Syria anytime soon. However, Iraq has begun discussions with the U.S. about an eventual transition away from the coalition mission to a bilateral security mission, which could potentially result in a reduction in the number of U.S. troops in Iraq.

The talks have been expected since August 2023 but have gained more urgency due to the Iraqi government’s concern over retaliatory airstrikes the U.S. has launched inside of Iraq. Gen. Kobane is concerned that the U.S. presence in Iraq is linked to the presence in Syria and that a withdrawal from Iraq would mean a withdrawal from Syria, making the SDF more vulnerable.

The fight against ISIS has been a long and arduous one. Since the fall of ISIS’s self-proclaimed caliphate in 2019, there have been numerous reports of ISIS activity in Syria and Iraq. In December 2023, at least 20 Syrian soldiers were killed in an ISIS bus ambush, and in January 2024, the ISIS leader was killed by a U.S. airstrike in Syria.

The U.S. has warned Iran before attacking targets in Iran that have been linked to ISIS, such as the attack that killed over 80 people in Kerman, Iran, on February 8, 2024. However, the tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, making it increasingly difficult for the SDF and the U.S. to prevent the resurgence of ISIS.

The Syrian Democratic Forces and the U.S. have been working together to defeat ISIS since 2015. The SDF is a predominantly Kurdish militia group that has been fighting against various extremist groups in Syria, including ISIS. The U.S. has provided military support, training, and airpower to the SDF in their fight against ISIS.

The U.S. presence in Syria has been a contentious issue, with some arguing that it is a violation of Syrian sovereignty. However, the U.S. maintains that its presence is necessary to prevent the resurgence of ISIS and to protect U.S. interests in the region.

The situation in Syria and Iraq is complex and multifaceted, with various actors vying for power and influence. The tensions between the U.S., Iran, and their respective allies continue to escalate, making it increasingly difficult for the SDF and the U.S. to prevent the resurgence of ISIS.

Gen. Kobane’s warning of a potential ISIS resurgence is a reminder of the ongoing threat that ISIS poses to the region and the world. The fight against ISIS is far from over, and it will require the continued efforts of the SDF, the U.S., and their allies to prevent the terror group from regaining a foothold in Syria and Iraq.

In conclusion, the Syrian Democratic Forces Commander, Gen. Mazloum Abdi Kobane, has issued a warning of a potential ISIS resurgence amidst the tensions in the Middle East. The SDF and the U.S. have been working together to prevent the resurgence of ISIS since 2015, but recent escalations of attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed forces have impeded their efforts. The situation in Syria and Iraq is complex and multifaceted, with various actors vying for power and influence, making it increasingly difficult for the SDF and the U.S. to prevent the resurgence of ISIS. The fight against ISIS is far from over, and it will require the continued efforts of the SDF, the U.S., and their allies to prevent the terror group from regaining a foothold in the region.