With Syria’s conflict frozen along the frontlines between the three main sides in the war (the Syrian government, the insurgents and the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces), the primary challenges facing each of these sides are internal, whether in the form of protests (e.g. the sustained protests against Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham in Idlib and its environs) or security incidents and insurgent activity. For the Syrian government, the biggest security issues lie in the badiya region (the central Syrian desert and steppes), where the Islamic State has proved to be a persistent insurgent problem. Reporting on the issue has been somewhat difficult though, because the Islamic State itself tends to underreport its activities in this area, and because a lot of the pro-opposition reporting that tends to attract more attention among outsider observers is unverifiable, exaggerated or fabricated.
To discuss the situation in more detail, such as the apparent general escalation in recent Islamic State activity in the badiya, the nature of that activity and whether any towns are at risk of falling to the Islamic State, I conducted an interview with Abu Ja’afar (‘The Scorpion’). Previously one of the founders of the National Defence Forces in Homs and commander of the auxiliary formation Liwa Khaybar, Abu Ja’afar now works with Division 25 (which evolved out of the Russian-backed Tiger Forces) in trying to keep the Dayr al-Zur-Palmyra-Homs route secure and is hoping to recruit new fighters as part of the mission against the Islamic State in the badiya. Other forces involved in trying to secure the badiya include Liwa al-Quds (also mainly Russian-backed) and Iranian-backed forces.
New recruiting advertisement put up by Abu Ja’afar for Division 25: “Protecting of the route from Palmyra to Homs: 15 days work, 15 days off. Accommodation bus takes you and brings you. Salary of 1,000,000 Syrian pounds, with food and drink at our expense. Requited: two personal photos and two photos of ID. Those wanted for desertion will be accepted. Age of recruitment from 18 to 55.”
Q: How is the security situation in the badiya generally?
A: First, peace be upon you with God’s mercy and blessings, and prayers and peace be upon our sayyid Muhammad and all his family and companions. In recent months, the Syrian badiya has witnessed activity of remnants of the extremist group called Da’esh [Islamic State] in some areas. As it seems, its personnel are foreigners and they hide in the mountains and caves, and most of the activity of its contingents takes place at night.
Q: Is there a risk that some villages or towns will fall in the hands of Da’esh?
A: No. Da’esh has no control of any town or populated area, but rather is following the way of brigands and guerrillas. There is no risk of the occupation of any town or village by its contingents. They are like bats of darkness: they appear at night and hide in the day.
Q: Does Da’esh sometimes carry out criminal activity like kidnapping citizens and imposing ‘taxes’ on them?
A: Yes, sometimes they kidnap some civilians but they carry out acts of murder and torture without imposing taxes.
Q: We see a new recruitment campaign has been launched for Division 25. What is your message for the youth? Has recruitment become necessary?
A: My message to every person, whether Arab or non-Arab: affiliation with the homeland and defending it is like affiliation with the self and defending honour, dignity and life. There must be no delay or forsaking by any person in defending his homeland, honour and dignity. May God protect you, my brothers.
