ISIS ‘0N RISE’
»»‘Sleeper cells’ in car bomb offensive »»‘Border on fire’ as 100,000 Kurds flee
A WAVE of car bombs sparked fears of a massive Islamic State uprising as Turkey’s invasion of Kurdishcontrolled Syria gathered pace.
One targeted Kurdish fighters at a restaurant in Qamishli, killing one and injuring five people.
It is believed thousands of IS fighters in sleeper cells have been waiting for the Kurds to be diverted so they can rise up and attack.
Meanwhile, the UN said
100,000 refuBritish jihadi Kotey gees had fled the fighting, a figure locals claimed could soon rise to 300,000. Marvan Qamishlo, of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said: “The whole border is on fire.”
The Us-backed Kurds almost wiped out IS in North East Syria. But when the US withdrew, Turkish troops crossed the border to provide “a safe zone for refugees”.
Many feel the real reason is to punish the Kurds who want a homeland in the region. Yesterday Turkish forces were joined by fighters from the rebel Syrian National Army, increasing the odds of more widespread violence. With the Kurds under such pressure, thousands of IS fighters could escape makeshift jails and join the mayhem.
Kurdish authorities have already accused Turkey of shelling a prison in Qamishli in a “clear attempt” to help jihadis escape. Yesterday sources confirmed that five had fled.
In all, 11,000 fighters were locked up after the IS caliphate collapsed.
Many are Europeans – including some British – who could carry out attacks across the continent if freed by the fighting.
Earlier this week the US took British jihadis Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee el-sheikh into custody. It is thought the pair, accused of beheading hostages, are likely to face a death penalty trial in the US.
Two Turkish soldiers died yesterday in a mortar attack near a military post set up last year in northern Syria. Pro-turkish Syrian fighters