In a statement on Tuesday, the Internal Security Forces of North-East Syria announced that ISIS cells targeted a checkpoint in Zinûd village in Qamishlo at midnight on 30 December.

According to the report, ISIS members threw a grenade at the barrier of the checkpoint while Internal Security Forces were performing their security duties. The attack caused material damage to the checkpoint, but no injuries or casualties were reported.

Internal Security Forces immediately launched a comprehensive search operation to apprehend the culprits.

Another attack by an ISIS cell resulted in the martyrdom of a member of the Jizîr Defence Forces on the road between Hol and Til Hemis.

“The attacks were carried out simultaneously with the attacks by Turkish-backed mercenaries against the region. This reality confirms that there is a high-level coordination between terrorist ISIS cells and mercenaries,” said the Internal Security Forces.

The statement added that clearing and search efforts against ISIS mercenaries will continue.

In a statement on 27 December, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reported increasing attacks by ISIS in North-East Syria as the region is witnessing security tensions coinciding with the attacks of the Turkish state and its mercenaries, proving the organic relationship between ISIS and the Turkish occupation.

“In light of the state of tension prevailing in Syria, the attacks launched by the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries on the regions of northern and eastern Syria, and the preoccupation of our SDF forces with countering the attacks of the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries on all our regions, the terrorist organization ISIS is trying to take advantage of the chaos prevailing in Syrian territory to revive itself and have the strength to carry out terrorist acts, mainly targeting the areas of north and eastern Syria, given that they are the most secure and stable,” the SDF said.