Kurdish Forces Drive Out ISIS in Christian Villages

14 Assyrian Christian villages in Syria that were captured by Islamic State terrorists (ISIS) in February have been taken back by Kurdish forces following a ten-day offensive. These Kurdish forces have successfully driven the terrorist presence out. The villages that were taken back are along the Khabur River, in the northeastern part of Syria. Some of the Assyrian Christians have returned to their villages and homes, however, many are wary to return due to the possible presence of booby traps or any remaining, hidden ISIL terrorists.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has declared it was the Kurdish forces that drove the terrorist presence out. The SOHR had also reported back in February of this year that members of the Kurdish YPG (People’s Protection Units) had taken back control of 70 villages during that month. These villages were in the al-Hasakah province of Syria, found in the northeastern part of the country, but were further north than the more recently re-captured villages.

In February when the villages along the Khabur River were first captured, approximately 210 Assyrians were kidnapped and held hostage by the ISIS terrorists. Assyrian Christians have been a particular target of the Islamic terrorist group, and many of the Christians have already fled their homes in anticipation of further conflict with the group. The traditional homelands of these Assyrian Christians include parts of Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Iran. As the Islamic State threatens more and more of their population, the Assyrian diaspora only continues to grow.

ISIS has been widely associated with and has caused massive acts of terrorism, murder, and destruction. More recently it seems, though, that the Islamic State is moving towards a period more focused on governance and the acceptance of said government. “This ISIS grand strategy to realize this vision [of a caliphate] involves first establishing control of terrain through military conquest and then reinforcing this control through governance”. This move could lead to a diminished emphasis on acts of terrorism and an increased focus on public relations, policy implementation, and the establishing of law and order, under Sharia.

In March of this year, approximately 19 Assyrian Christians who were taken hostage by ISIS terrorists late February from northern Syrian villages were released. The decision on their release came from a Sharia judge, who decided that the Christian hostages had not violated Sharia law in any way and were free to go. Part of the reason behind the decision on their release was that the Christians did not oppose the new government. They agreed to acknowledge the new Islamic government, as well as pay a special tax.

Similar to this release was an event in September of 2014, when Al Nusrah, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, officially let 40 captured UN peacekeepers go free. There was some speculation surrounding the release decision regarding the intentions of Al Nusrah. It was reported that Al Nusrah wanted removal from the UN’s list of terrorist organizations, humanitarian relief, and the possible transfer of peacekeepers for al Qaeda captives in prison.

Abu Muhammad al Maqdisi, a well-regarded Jordanian jihadist and scholar, is closely tied with Al Nusrah and has criticized the Islamic State and its actions. Maqdisi, when approached by Al Nursrah regarding what further action to take with the peacekeepers, referred to how a Muslim had apparently given one or more of the peacekeepers what is known as “a pact of safety”. A pact of safety is essentially when a Muslim individual gives a non-Muslim the promise that they will not be harmed. Under Sharia law, this pact of safety must not be broken. This is why Maqdisi declared that the peacekeepers must be set free.

The discussion on the forces and methods that could best combat the threats posed by the Islamic State is still a very heated and widespread one. The discussion has also shifted due to the apparent change in ISIS’s focus from terrorism to governance. It seems to be, however, that the Kurdish forces have been successful in their attempts at combatting ISIS so far. The search for the right answer in regards to best countering ISIS happens to be right in front of us.