ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Islamic State (ISIS) has carried out more than 153 attacks in the Kurdish region of northeast Syria (Rojava) since the collapse of dictator Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December, announced the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Monday. The surge in the extremist group’s activities indicate that it is attempting to regroup and expand its territorial control, according to the SDF.
“Between the collapse of the Baath regime in Damascus on December 8, 2024, and September 20, 2025, ISIS cells carried out 153 attacks in North and East Syria — evidence of its ongoing efforts to reorganize and expand operations,” read a statement by the SDF.
The extremist group, whose so-called caliphate was dismantled in Syria by the SDF in 2019 with the help of the US-led global coalition against ISIS, remains a threat and has exploited a security vacuum, especially in areas separating Rojava from Damascus-held territories, since the interim government came to power.
The SDF has carried out numerous operations this year to counter what they say is a resurgence in ISIS activity targeting both their forces and civilians. The SDF functions as the de facto military force in Rojava. It remains a key partner of the global coalition.
In their counter terrorism operations in cooperation with the US-led coalition, SDF has captured many ISIS suspects. The SDF has also raided the notorious al-Hol camp in Hasaka province several times and announced the arrest of ISIS cells operating inside the camp, which houses thousands of families with alleged ties with ISIS.
Al-Hol camp has a population of around 27,488 people with suspected links to ISIS, most of them women and children, according to the most recent data from Rojava authorities. The camp’s residents come from around the world, though the majority are Iraqis and Syrians. It has been called a breeding ground for terrorism.
“Despite the heavy losses it has suffered, ISIS continues its attempts to reorganize, exploiting the chaos in parts of Syria and unstable conditions in areas beyond our control. However, through the SDF’s precise security and military operations, carried out in coordination with the International Coalition, dozens of such attempts have been foiled, preventing the group’s resurgence and protecting the security and stability of our people,” read the SDF statement on Monday.
The SDF also said 2025 saw a “notable” rise in ISIS’ attempts to remerge.
An estimated 2,000 ISIS militants remain active in Hasaka, an SDF spokesperson told Rudaw in July.
Since their defeat in 2019, ISIS shifted their activities from state organization to a network of cells and militant groups relying on hit-and-run activities mostly targeting SDF forces and civilians in north east Syria.
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