Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH - Amid growing concerns of a reemergence of the Daesh (so-called Islamic State) fighters in the vacuum created by the early October pullout of the US forces from northeast Syria that paved the way for a Turkish offensive against the Syrian Kurdish YPG forces who had been at the forefront of fighting against Daesh, there’s an increasing fear in Western countries that they could face a wave of returning battle-hardened Daesh fighters from Syria unless they get tough on Turkey.

The way in which the US pulled out its forces and the immediate launch of the ground offensive by the Turkish forces in in northeastern Syria, leaving Kurdish forces and thousands of civilians at risk, triggered immediate chaos that could have lasting consequence. Turkey’s Operation Peace Spring unfolded with thousands fleeing this dastardly attack, especially from Ras Al-Ayn and Tal Abyad, causing a humanitarian crisis.

It is reported that more than 100,000 civilians have been displaced by the Turkish invasion, hospitals are being closed, and drinking water is running short. Some of the already displaced people are now being forced to pick up their belongings to seek new safe havens, just to live. In addition reports of the Turkish irregular forces’ abuse of Kurds and Kurdish prisoners have also surfaced.

In this grim scenario, the fact that there is a genuine threat of the Daesh fighters regrouping and resurfacing is being taken little note of with leaders and world powers literally showing little concern for this mini detail that could have major significance to global efforts to combat terrorism. The US and its Syrian-Kurdish allies had fought years-long campaign to destroy the Daesh bid to establish a strong base in Syria, then already plunged in an unending civil war, from where they could export their brand of extremism and terror.

The US pullout and the resultant Turkish invasion have opened up a series of issues that could impinge and impact on the global fight against terror. The initial chaos, now contained a bit, saw Turkey entering into a pact with the Russians and its ally Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad thereby allowing Al-Assad to retake control over areas of Syria that Kurdish-led forces, with America's help, had carved out as free, self-governing zones. This also truncated Turkey’s goals of establishing a roughly 30-km deep strip of land along the 440-km border between the two countries.

In addition, the vacuum threatens to reverse victory against a Daesh network that had spread its tentacles all around the globe with terror acts from West to East and from North to South. Also in the ensuing attacks, reports have emerged that hundreds of Daesh prisoners have escaped detention camps, and the Syrian-based sleeper cells that had been suppressed by the US-led coalition are resurfacing.

Reports of Daesh fighters seizing a chance to escape and regroup as the Kurdish forces turn their attention from guarding thousands of captive extremists to defending themselves from Turkey’s assault too have emerged. Some reports have identified the escaped detainees are from the Ayn Issa camp, which holds prisoners, internally displaced persons and families or affiliates of Daesh fighters, in northern Syria. Reports of terror attacks being carried out by “sleeper cells” that had emerged from inside the camp adding to the situation’s volatility.

The escaped Daesh fighters present a dilemma for the nations from where these fighters have come from. Many of the escaped Daesh fighters from Syria will make their way back to their countries to continue their terrorist activities. This threat is very big due to the tumult created by the quick Turkish offensive.

Though Turkey has said that it will ensure that any Daesh detainees in territory it has captured will remain in detention, the fact that there have unconfirmed reports of many Daesh escapees in the Turkish airstrike and ground offensive makes us ask the question: How many are free and on the run? This is the scary element with these resourceful Daesh fighters escaping and traveling over porous borders to Europe and beyond.

Apart from the growing threat of Daesh, there is the additional element of Iran too getting a clear path to sustain meddling in the Syrian quagmire. Syria is already assisted in some way or other by Iran, and this vacuum could allow overland supply routes for Iranian militia in Syria and Tehran-supported Hezbollah fighters’ efforts in imposing its hegemony. It also, indirectly, hits at the US goal of limiting Iran’s aggressive foreign policy in the region.

Since the US pullout and the subsequent Turkish invasion, Daesh has claimed responsibility for some of the bombings against Kurdish forces in different parts of Syria as sporadic fighting continues in several areas along the border. The eventual outcome of the deals and counter-deals at the Syrian northern border is being viewed in a prism of optimism for a peaceful solution. But on one thing the world needs to unite is to combat the Daesh menace in full.

For this global leaders need to act, especially with the Kurds already petitioning the EU to take a tougher stance on Turkey, in order to stem what could be an unseen exodus of these escaped Daesh fighters or those in the sleeper cells in Syria toward their borders and unleash there what they know best — terror. Daesh will make every attempt to boost the terrorist organization in its attempt to re-establish itself, especially after the killing of its leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi in Syria. And this will have a dire consequence not only for the region but also for the world if the global leaders do not stand tough against terror or those who support terror.