Kurds fear resurgence of Islamic State group in Syria

Kurdish forces say there's a real threat IS militants will try to break out comrades held in their jails in the north east.

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The chaos since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad is "paving the way" for the so-called Islamic State (IS) to make a comeback, according to a leading Kurdish commander who helped defeat the jihadist group in Syria in 2019. He says the comeback has already begun.

"Activity by Daesh [IS] has increased significantly, and the danger of a resurgence had doubled', according to General Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a mainly Kurdish militia alliance backed by the US. "They now have more capabilities and more opportunities."

He says that IS militants have seized some arms and ammunition left behind by Syrian regime troops, according to intelligence reports.

And he warns there is "a real threat" that the militants will try to break into SDF-run prisons here in north-east Syria, which are holding about 10,000 of their men. The SDF is also holding about 50,000 of their family members in camps.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgx3r4nd2mo

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