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On June 26, Four fighters of the al-Sanadid Forces, the largest Arabian faction of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), were killed and at least three others were wounded as a result of an attack by ISIS cells in the northeastern countryside of Syria’s al-Hasakah.
The fighters were moving in a vehicle near the village of Ali Agha when they were attacked by two terrorists of ISIS on a motorcycle. The terrorists opened fire at the vehicle from their machine guns then fled the scene.
In a statement released by its official news agency, Amaq, ISIS said that its cells had targeted a vehicle carrying “apostates” near Ali Agha.
According to the Hawar News Agency, the SDF dispatched a force to Ali Agha and launched an investigation into the deadly attack.
Al-Sanadid Forces, which have more than 4,500 fighters, is led by Sheikh Hmeidi Daham al-Jarba, the leader of the prominent Arab tribe Shammar in northeastern Syria. The faction is mainly active in Arab areas in the northern and northeastern countryside of al-Hasakah.
Despite being a part of the SDF, al-Sanadid Forces don’t recognize the Damascus government as a foe. In fact, Sheikh Hmeidi Daham is known to have close ties with senior officials in Damascus as well as with the command of Russian forces in Syria.
Ali Agha attack represents a serious escalation by ISIS cells in northeastern Syria. The terrorist group’s cells were not that active in the northeastern countryside of al-Hasakah before. Furthermore, the group refrained from targeted members of prominent Arab tribes in the northeastern region in the past.
