A year after Daesh defeat, Raqqa residents live in fear
New Internal Security Forces struggling to stem infiltration by sleeper cells
Ayear after a US-backed alliance of Syrian fighters drove Daesh from the northern city of Raqqa, traumatised civilians still live in fear of near-daily bombings.
“Every day we wake up to the sound of an explosion,” said resident Khalid Al Darwish.
The extremists’ brutal rule in Raqqa was brought to an end in October 2017, after a monthslong ground offensive by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces supported by air strikes from a US-led coalition.
But despite manning roadblocks at every street corner, the SDF and the city’s newly created Internal Security Forces are struggling to stem infiltration by Daesh sleeper cells.
At Raqqa’s entrance, soldiers verify drivers’ identity papers and carefully sift through lorry cargoes. Inside the city, there are regular patrols and armoured vehicles sit at strategic points. Women wearing the niqab are asked to show their faces to female security members before entering public buildings.
“If there wasn’t fear about a return of Daesh, there wouldn’t be this increased military presence,” said Darwish, a father of two, speaking near the infamous Paradise Square.
It was here that Daesh carried out decapitations and other brutal punishments, earning the intersection a new name — “the roundabout of hell”.
‘We are exhausted’
While the nightmare of extremist rule may be gone, most of the city still lies in ruins and there are near daily attacks on checkpoints and military vehicles, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Although a series of stinging defeats have cut Daesh’s so-called caliphate down to desert hideouts, the extremists still manage to hit beyond the ground they overtly control.
Some Raqqa residents say the city’s new security forces lack the expertise to cope.
“We are exhausted. Every day we don’t know if we will die in a bomb explosion or if we will go home safe and sound,” said Abu Younus, sitting in his supermarket near a roundabout not far from Paradise Square.
“There is no security — (the new security forces) on the roadblocks are not qualified and there is a lot of negligence,” he complained. “There are faults that enable Daesh to infiltrate the city easily and carry out attacks.”
Ahmad Khalaf, who commands Raqqa’s Internal Security Forces, defended the work of his men and claimed successes against the extremists. He said patrols are highly organised and that a “joint operation cell” had recently been established with coalition forces to monitor the city’s security.
“Recently we arrested four (extremists) — it was a cell that took part in attacks that terrorised the city,” said Khalaf. “We are continuing our investigation to uncover the other cells,” he said, adding, “Daesh’s goal is to destroy the country and to not let anyone live in safety.”