In the complex mosaic of the new Syria, the old battle against the group calling itself Islamic State (IS) continues in the Kurdish-controlled northeast. Counter-terrorism officials warn that IS cells are regrouping and increasing their attacks amidst the country's shifting political landscape.
Amidst the turmoil, the stories of the young fighters, like 21-year-old Walid Abdul-Basit Sheikh Mousa, remind us of the human cost. He was killed fighting IS weeks after finally acquiring a motorbike, a dream he cherished. His mother recalls the memories fondly, calling for revenge against the group that took her son.
The largest jail for IS suspects, al-Sina, in Al Hasakah, confines around 8,000 detainees from various countries. Here, men stripped of their power appear broken. Yet, reports suggest that IS is not finished; they are re-organizing and planning their next moves.
Detainees including Hamza Parvez, formerly from the UK, express a desire to return home, fearing for their lives amidst prison conditions rife with tuberculosis. Meanwhile, Kurdish authorities manage not just the suspects but also their families left in harsh tent camps, amid accusations of collective punishment.
As the situation evolves, fears loom large over a new generation of IS supporters growing up in these camps, leading Kurdish officials to warn of the potential resurgence of the group in an even more radicalized form.
Amidst the turmoil, the stories of the young fighters, like 21-year-old Walid Abdul-Basit Sheikh Mousa, remind us of the human cost. He was killed fighting IS weeks after finally acquiring a motorbike, a dream he cherished. His mother recalls the memories fondly, calling for revenge against the group that took her son.
The largest jail for IS suspects, al-Sina, in Al Hasakah, confines around 8,000 detainees from various countries. Here, men stripped of their power appear broken. Yet, reports suggest that IS is not finished; they are re-organizing and planning their next moves.
Detainees including Hamza Parvez, formerly from the UK, express a desire to return home, fearing for their lives amidst prison conditions rife with tuberculosis. Meanwhile, Kurdish authorities manage not just the suspects but also their families left in harsh tent camps, amid accusations of collective punishment.
As the situation evolves, fears loom large over a new generation of IS supporters growing up in these camps, leading Kurdish officials to warn of the potential resurgence of the group in an even more radicalized form.
