Syria: Failed IS attack on Raqqa prison, six members of Kurdish forces killed
(Illustration) SDF fighters in a street in Raqqa, September 16, 2017. REUTERS / Rodi Said
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In northeastern Syria, fighters from the Islamic State group attempted to attack a headquarters and a prison in Raqqa, according to Kurdish security forces on Monday (December 26th).
They were pushed back by Syrian Democratic Forces soldiers who lost six men and killed two jihadists.
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With our correspondent in Erbil,
Théo Renaudon
It was a headquarters housing a prison that was attacked, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH), Rami Abdel Rahman, indicated that "
the objective of the jihadists was the military security prison, in which there are some 900 jihadists, including about 200 from high level
”.
A jihadist who was wearing an explosive belt was killed and another apprehended by Kurdish forces, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) spokesman Farhad Chami told AFP.
Six members of the Kurdish security forces were killed, according to the SDF.
This failed attack was claimed on the Telegram messaging application by the IS, which says it wanted to "
avenge the Muslim prisoners
", in particular the jihadist women in
the Al-Hol camp
, under Kurdish administration, in the northern Syria.
Raqqa on high alert
Since the attack, the city of
Raqqa
, the former capital of the jihadist group in Syria, has been on high alert.
The Kurdish Autonomous Administration announced in a press release the state of emergency in the city and proclaimed a curfew “
until further notice
”.
The commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces maintains that IS sleeper cells are preparing other operations in the city, without giving further details.
This jihadist assault, the Kurdish forces link it to the Turkish offensive in Syrian Kurdistan.
"
Erdogan's threats of invasion are waking up the dormant cells of the Islamic State
", denounced a senior Kurdish official.
The Islamic State group has already launched several jihadist attacks in Rojava since the start of the Turkish offensive on November 20.
These airstrikes affect Kurds, soldiers as well as civilians.
The latter call for more support from the international coalition.
►Also read: Iraq: nine police officers killed in an ambush claimed by the Islamic State
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Syria
Kurds
IS
Terrorism