By Jihadists entrench themselves in tunnel system
Liberators are slowly advancing
A Syrian village near the Iraqi border is the last remaining place to belong to the “caliphate” that ISIS proclaimed in 2014 – which once controlled more than six million people in a territory as big as the United Kingdom.
Baghuz is under siege by units of the SDF (“Syrian Democratic Forces”) – the alliance that has increasingly pushed back the jihadists in eastern Syria, with the support, primarily, of the US, the United Kingdom, and France.
Up to 1500 ISIS fighters are entrenched “down there” in Baghuz, as one SDF commander says.
“Down there” refers not only to the openly visible ISIS positions, but also to the multi-branched tunnel system that the ISIS fighters have installed. “It’s not just tunnels. We’re basically talking about a second city below the main city,” the SDF commander says.
This also explains where the huge numbers of people came from who fled Baghuz over the past few weeks and who surrendered to the SDF. On some days, their number exceeded 1000. On Monday, it was even 1600 people, including 300 ISIS fighters from various countries.
The SDF itself was surprised by these numbers. Even now, it is not clear how many people are still holding out in the last remaining ISIS bastion.
Contrary to some reports, there are allegedly still children among these people. The jihadists are probably planning to use them as human shields. Hence, there have been a limited number of air strikes. On the ground, the SDF fighters are slowly advancing.
“We come at night because then we have a tactical advantage,” the commander says. “Daytime belongs to ISIS. That’s when they attack with their snipers and rocket launchers.” He does not want to specify how much longer the operation will last. “It’ll probably be at least a number of days.”
The food and ammunition storages in Baghuz are also likely to run out soon. From SDF positions, one can make out burning ammunition dumps. Many fighters and their families who have surrendered over the past few days look emaciated.
Talking to BILD, German ISIS members describe the battle for food distribution in Baghuz. “We had nothing to eat. Everything was given to the Iraqis.”
What will happen after the conquest of Baghuz?
ISIS has suffered a military defeat, but the group has long since – and successfully – resumed its guerilla fight – just like prior to 2014. In Iraq, ISIS is carrying out attacks an almost daily basis. In the Middle Euphrates Valley, the YPG is facing tens of thousands of locals, some of them ISIS sympathizers.
The security environment in the hinterland is by no means stable. Again and again, there are drive-by shootings and bomb attacks against the Kurdish militia YPG. In Busayrah, one of the villages closest to Baghuz, the situation is particularly dangerous for the anti-ISIS coalition. The jihadists are striking mostly at night, throwing the corpses under a bridge at the exit to the village.
Soussa and Shafa, the small towns near Baghuz that were only recently liberated, are still deserted. Over half the homes have been destroyed. Tens of thousands of refugees are waiting to return in YPG camps. Moreover, the YPG has arrested thousands of ISIS members, including several dozen Germans.
They must all be guarded and taken care of, since most of their countries of origin are not yet trying to take them back. “They are your citizens – deal with them,” the SDF commander says.
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