The Syrian Democratic Forces accused elements of the Damascus government of collaborating with ISIS terrorists, after the largely Kurdish militia shot down two ISIS drones launched from "positions held by Damascus government-affiliated factions" east of Raqqa on Wednesday.
One of the drones was identified as a Matrice M30, while the other was "an offensive First Person View (FPW) type," SDF's official social media clarified.
Soldiers analyzed the wreckage of the drones, finding a memory card within the M30, which they analyzed and were able to link with ISIS terrorists from the data retrieved.
The data also showed that the terrorists were "stationed at positions held by Damascus government-affiliated factions, directly opposite the defensive lines of the Syrian Democratic Forces," the announcement continued.
SDF alleges that this "conclusively confirms" that "several factions of the Damascus government are involved in cooperating with foreign ISIS-affiliated elements, allowing them to use their locations and positions to conduct reconnaissance and drone attacks."
Damascus's alleged cooperation would be allowing ISIS terrorists to "rebuild its capabilities in an even more dangerous manner," the SDF accused.
SDF called on partners in the US-led coalition against ISIS to "closely examine these alarming findings and launch an investigation into the involvement of foreign fighters affiliated with ISIS in operating drones from within front-line areas."
SDF also urged coalition partners to pursue anyone who is complicit in aiding ISIS by providing technical and logistical assistance, and affirmed that "ignoring violations undermines regional security," and would allow ISIS to regroup.
SDF launches counterterror operation against ISIS drone operatives
A later SDF statement confirmed that the group's forces "are engaging" a number of sites that ISIS terrorists used in the recent drone launches.
This follow-up statement also reaffirmed the group's accusation of ties between ISIS and elements of the Damascus government, with the SDF alleging that the latter is providing logistical and technical support to terrorist elements.
Sharaa announces Damascus to join anti-ISIS coalition
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced on November 11 that Damascus would join the anti-ISIS coalition.
The previous day, two senior officials said that Syria foiled two separate ISIS plots to assassinate Sharaa. The Damascus leader has long battled against ISIS, including while he was a leader of al-Qaeda affiliates in the region, as well as Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham.
Since deposing Bashar al-Assad and seizing power last December, Sharaa has attempted to reunify Syria, which had been shattered into various autonomous regions during the 10-year civil war.
One such step is seeking to integrate the SDF into Syria's Damascus-led security forces, but he has yet to reach an agreement with SDF leadership, including SDF chief Mazloum Abdi, on whether and how the largely Kurdish group would be integrated.
The US-backed, largely ethnically-Kurdish SDF is the military wing of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES), and has played a key frontline counterterrorism role in the US-led coalition against ISIS in Syria.
ISIS remains a threat across Syria
ISIS, despite being heavily weakened over recent years, including through intense US-backed SDF operations, remains a lethal threat in parts of Syria, including the eastern and northern Kurdish regions, where the DAANES holds some autonomous control.
On November 1, the SDF confirmed that it conducted counterterror raids on ISIS cells near Raqqa, arresting five, including three who had been involved in "planning and carrying out terrorist attacks against SDF military points," as well as institutions belonging to the DAANES.
The United States is preparing to establish a military presence at an airbase in Damascus to help enable a security pact that Washington is brokering between Syria and Israel, six sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on November 6.
A US administration official said the US was "constantly evaluating our necessary posture in Syria to effectively combat ISIS (Islamic State) and (we) do not comment on locations or possible locations of (where) forces operate."
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on November 12 its forces assisted and enabled more than 22 operations against ISIS in which five members of the group were killed and 19 captured.
The operations took place from October 1 to November 6, CENTCOM said.
Seth J. Frantzman and Reuters contributed to this report.