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Security Tightened in Syria's Raqqa after ISIS Jailbreak

ISIS prisoners are seen at a jail in Raqqa, Syria. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
ISIS prisoners are seen at a jail in Raqqa, Syria. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Security Tightened in Syria's Raqqa after ISIS Jailbreak

ISIS prisoners are seen at a jail in Raqqa, Syria. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
ISIS prisoners are seen at a jail in Raqqa, Syria. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) tightened security measures in Syria’s northern city of Raqqa after foreign ISIS members escaped from jail in late August.

ISIS slogans were also painted on walls in Raqqa, raising concerns over the threat of the extremist group.

Residents discovered the slogans on Saturday morning, reminding them of the years they spent under ISIS’ brutal rule.

The group was defeated in Syria in 2019, but its cells remain active.

A security source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the SDF transferred dozens of foreign prisoners from al-Matahen jail to other more secure facilities following the jailbreak.

Two Russian, two Afghan and one Libyan ISIS members escaped al-Matahen in August.

American forces and the SDF managed to detain one of the Russians and the Libyan a day later. The rest are still on the run.

The source said the escape reminded the world and member countries of the anti-ISIS International Coalition of the threat of the extremist group and that its cells were still capable of carrying out attacks and striking fear in the local population.

Separately, the SDF announced on Saturday the arrest of 34 people suspected of joining ISIS cells.

The SDF carried out 16 security operations against ISIS in July and August, leaving at least five people dead.

Head of the SDF media center Farhad Shami told Asharq Al-Awsat that dangerous ISIS members were among the detainees.

They had planned and carried out several terrorist attacks in Kurdish-held regions, he revealed.

Among them was the chief official responsible for booby-trapping cars and another responsible for financing ISIS in Raqqa, he added.

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Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
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Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Thursday called on major powers to “exert greater efforts to end the war in Palestine and Lebanon.” Meanwhile, an Iraqi government official urged the United States to “prevent any attacks on the country,” referring to potential Israeli strikes.
During a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Al-Sudani stressed the importance of ensuring the conflict does not escalate “to a level that threatens regional and global stability.”
The Iraqi prime minister’s appeal comes amid reports suggesting that Israel may launch strikes on Iraq in retaliation for attacks by Iraqi armed factions targeting Israeli positions.
The Iraqi government is striving to assert its exclusive authority over weapons and war-related decisions. However, armed factions affiliated with the Axis of Resistance openly claim responsibility for near-daily rocket attacks on Israel. This has provided Israel with a justification for potentially targeting Iraqi territory, especially after it filed a complaint with the UN Security Council against six Iraqi factions and held Baghdad responsible for the attacks.
These factions have also openly declared their involvement in the ongoing conflict with Israel in Lebanon and Gaza. The Iraqi government has been unable to take decisive action to halt the activities of these factions, which many believe could soon expose Iraq to an Israeli strike.
According to media reports, Washington has warned Baghdad that Israeli airstrikes on Iraq are “imminent” unless the Iraqi government curtails attacks by Iranian-backed factions on Israel. The Times of Israel cited sources indicating that the United States has “exhausted all means of pressure on Israel” and urged Iraq to act swiftly to prevent such attacks.
Despite repeated assurances from the Iraqi government—including its recent adoption of 12 measures by the National Security Council to counter Israeli threats and complaints—the situation remains tense. These measures include monitoring Iraq’s western borders, preventing factions from launching attacks, and maintaining Iraq’s neutrality in the ongoing conflict.
On Wednesday, Abu Hussein Al-Hamidawi, Secretary-General of Kata’ib Hezbollah, made a striking statement on the role of resistance factions in the war and their commitment to the Unity of Fronts doctrine frequently mentioned by Axis of Resistance groups.
In an interview published by the faction’s media arm, Al-Hamidawi said: “The continuity of the Unity of Fronts concept depends on what the Lebanese Hezbollah decides.”
Al-Hamidawi also emphasized that resistance factions are constantly coordinating internally and with external partners such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Palestinian resistance leaders.
“We aim to ensure that the Palestinian people are not left alone and that the Unity of Fronts remains intact,” he stated.
Fadi Al-Shammari, a political advisor to Sudani, reiterated that Israel’s threats “are not new,” citing the recent complaint filed by Israel with the UN Security Council as part of its pattern of issuing threats.
In media statements, Al-Shammari reaffirmed the Iraqi government’s long-standing position: “The decision of war and peace lies solely with the Iraqi government.”
He noted that the factions’ attacks are being launched from areas outside Iraq’s borders, specifically from Syria. However, he stressed that the Iraqi government is working through its security and military agencies to prevent Iraq from becoming a battlefield for external or internal parties.
Al-Shammari also called on the United States to fulfill its responsibilities under the Strategic Framework Agreement and security pact with Iraq, emphasizing the need to deter and respond to any external attacks that threaten Iraq’s internal security.