Security

Doctor killed by suspected ISIS cell in Deir al-Zor

“These developments come in light of the ongoing security chaos, widespread weapons (smuggling) and increased activity of ISIS cells in SDF-held areas.”

Wladimir van Wilgenburg 2022/01/12 11:20

Dr. Abdul-Mofedi Ali was killed by a suspected ISIS cell on Tuesday (Photo: ANHA)

Syria Deir al-Zor SDF ISIS

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Unidentified gunmen killed a doctor in Deir al-Zor on Tuesday, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) war monitor reported.

The doctor was killed in front of al-Kindi Hospital in al-Tayana town in the eastern Deir al-Zor countryside.

“These developments come in light of the ongoing security chaos, widespread weapons (smuggling) and increased activity of ISIS cells in SDF-held areas,” SOHR said.

The Syria-based Hawar News Agency (ANHA) identified the victim as Dr. Abdul-Mofdi, a surgeon from the town of Al-Salihiyah in the western countryside of Deir al-Zor on the west bank of the Euphrates River.

He reportedly settled in areas under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) due to persecution by the Syrian government.

The ANHA news agency said the Internal Security Forces, also known as Asayish, started to investigate the assassination of Dr. Abdul-Mofedi Ali and the assassination of the Kurdish paramedic Bassem Muhammad in the notorious al-Hol camp.

Despite the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the US-led coalition announcing the defeat of the extremist group’s so-called caliphate on March 23, 2019, ISIS sleeper cell attacks continue in areas liberated from the militants.

Many of these attacks occur in the eastern oil-rich Arab majority province of Deir al-Zor.

The US-led coalition continues to support anti-ISIS operations by the SDF as part of joint efforts to deny ISIS militants and leaders the ability to operate in Syria.