IS changes modus operandi in east of Euphrates
The Syrian Democratic Forces banned wearing the niqab in the towns and villages of Raqqa after members of IS cells used it to carry out attacks.
RAQQA, Syria — The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) killed an Islamic State (IS) emir in the village of al-Ruz, east of Deir ez-Zor, nicknamed Abu Omar al-Suri.
In a statement published Sept. 26 on its website, the SDF described the emir as the mastermind of terrorist attacks in the region. Abu Omar, who was responsible for arming and transporting IS sleeper cells, was killed by the SDF after he resisted arrest and used grenades against them, according to the SDF statement.
Shirwan Qamishlo, an SDF fighter, told Al-Monitor that Abu Omar had managed to escape before by disguising as a woman, but the SDF eventually tracked him down and killed him.
Qamishlo added, “Abu Omar, just like other sleeper cell officials, had recruited women to carry out terrorist operations in Deir ez-Zor towns and countryside, Raqqa and various parts of the east of the Euphrates. These women are veiled and wear long black and loose clothes, known as the niqab, making it hard for the SDF to track and arrest them. This is especially difficult since the niqab is also worn by civilian women who fear the reprisal of IS sleeper cells active in those areas, especially in rural areas, as IS considers the niqab as the traditional [Islamic] dress and threatens to kill anyone not wearing it.”
