SDF dismisses fighters for breaching military discipline

"The fighters involved in this footage have been stripped of their military identity."

Wladimir van Wilgenburg 2022/01/25 14:28

ISIS fighter captured by the SDF near the al-Sina’a prison (Photo: SDF Media Center)

Syria SDF ISIS Hasakah AANES Deir al-Zor

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Monday dismissed a number of their fighters for violating military discipline during the arrest of ISIS members.

"Harsh footage was posted on social media about arresting of several Daesh (ISIS) terrorists who attacked the al-Sina'a prison in al-Hasaka," the SDF media center said in a statement.

"However, the fighters involved in this footage have been stripped of their military identity and expelled, and they will be sent to the competent court for breaching the moral values and military principles of the SDF."

In one video published online, SDF fighters can be seen insulting captured ISIS prisoners and fighters.

"The SDF realizes that it is engaged in an information war with ISIS. ISIS seeks to use the Gweiran operation as a means to attract followers and to continue to mount a narrative insurgency against the SDF," Nicholas A. Heras, a senior analyst and the Deputy Director of the Human Security Unit at the New Lines Institute, told Kurdistan 24.

"The SDF not only needs to showcase the skills it learned from the U.S.-led Coalition. It also needs to show the world that it is a moral organization too," he said.

On Jan 20, 200 ISIS fighters attacked the Sina'a prison in Al-Hasakah city.

In response, the SDF launched a large operation with the participation of about 10,000 fighters of SDF and Internal Security Forces."

According to UN data, the fighting could have displaced more than 45,000 people. Some say the numbers are even higher.

"The assault on the prison is ongoing." Clara Moore, a Syria-based researcher at the Rojava Information Center (RIC), told Kurdistan 24.

"All cities in the Jazira region of AANES (Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria) territory have been put under 6-6 curfew and intracity travel is prohibited."

She also said that "ISIS cells in Deir al-Zor in the southern area of AANES territory launched a series of larger attacks against SDF positions. This follows other attacks in Deir al-Zor on Jan. 21st, in which no casualties were reported."