On June 24, ISIS released a new video documenting recent attacks on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the northeastern governorate of al-Hasakah.
The 12-minute video, that is titled “Epic Of Attrition 3,” includes footage of terrorist attacks which took place between August 31 of 2019 and May 23 of 2020.
According to ISIS claims:
- 72 operations, including raids, assassinations and bombings, were carried out;
- 169 commanders and fighters of the SDF were killed or injured;
- 36 vehicles of the SDF were destroyed.
The first part of the video shows ISIS cells assassinating three fighters and an official of the SDF on highways in al-Hasakah. Three of the victims were shot with silenced handguns while they were moving on their motorcycles.
The video release also includes horrifying footage showing the execution of six SDF fighters. One of the victims was beheaded by ISIS terrorists.
ISIS confirmed its responsibility for some of the recent bombings in al-Hasakah in the video. The group shared footage of two bombings and six attacks with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) targeting vehicles of the SDF.
Two other IED attacks targeted oil tankers in al-Hasakah. One of the tankers was transporting oil to government-held areas.
The video release also shows ISIS terrorists shelling a base of the U.S.-led coalition in the town of al-Shaddadi with 107 mm rockets. The results of the attack are still unknown.
Footage of a raid by ISIS terrorists on an SDF position in al-Hasakah were also included in the video release. Several SDF fighters were killed. Loads of weapons and equipment were captured by the terrorist group.
The video release was concluded with footage of ISIS terrorists pledging their allegiance to the terrorist group’s new leader, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi.
The Epic of Attrition 3 is meant to intimidate the locals in al-Hasakah, especially Arabs and tribal leaders supporting the SDF. The terrorist group is apparently working to expand its influence from Deir Ezzor to the oil-rich northeastern governorate.