Beirut - (AFP) - The Syrian Democratic Forces announced Thursday the launch of an operation against the Islamic State in cooperation with the US-led international coalition, three days after an attack that claimed the lives of Kurdish fighters in northern Syria.

On Monday, the Islamic State launched an attack in the city of Raqqa, which was considered its stronghold in Syria before its defeat in 2019, targeting security centers, before the Syrian Democratic Forces thwarted it and prevented the attackers from storming a nearby prison containing hundreds of jihadists.

The Raqqa Civil Council of the Kurdish Autonomous Administration in northern and northeastern Syria quickly declared a state of emergency and a curfew in the city, which the Syrian Democratic Forces regained control of in 2017, following fierce battles with the extremist organization.

"Saeqa Al-Jazeera" was launched at dawn on Thursday, December 29, "with the participation of the Internal Security Forces of northern and eastern Syria and the international coalition forces," according to a statement on the SDF's media website.

Its aim is to "eliminate ISIS terrorist cells and purify the areas where terrorist outposts are located," according to the same source.
The international coalition did not immediately confirm its participation in the operation.

Among the justifications provided for launching the "Saeqa al-Jazeera" attack was the recent attack on a prison holding members of the Islamic State "in the city of Raqqa and a center for the internal security forces charged with protecting the area, as well as eight attempts to attack al-Hawl camp and areas in Deir ez-Zor and Hasakah" (northeast Syria). .

The recent Raqqa attack is considered the largest against a prison since the attack launched by dozens of ISIS fighters on Ghweran prison in the city of Hasakah in January 2022, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds on both sides.

The Raqqa attack targeted a security square that includes several security and military centers, as well as a prison for the intelligence of the Syrian Democratic Forces, whose backbone the Kurds are.

The Kurdish security forces reinforce their deployment during the holidays every year, for fear of attacks by the Islamic State.

Since the announcement of the elimination of the "caliphate" in 2019, the Syrian Democratic Forces, with the support of the international coalition led by Washington, have pursued the organization's leaders and members who are still carrying out attacks with explosive devices, assassinations, or armed attacks in Kurdish-controlled areas in the north and northeast of the country.

On Monday, the Islamic State said that it wanted revenge for its members imprisoned by the Kurds.

In September, Kurdish forces announced the arrest of more than 200 jihadists in the al-Hol refugee camp as part of an operation they launched in late August.