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ISIS Resurgent?

The incredible ascent of ISIS as a geopolitical actor and terror group without peers was thought to have met its bitter end in the final battles for holdouts across Syria and Iraq. The legacy of rubble and detention camps was what many hoped was all the remained of those who fought under the black flag. However, events in Hasakah over the past week have suddenly given a stark example of what many feared; that whilst battles against ISIS had been won, the war is not finished.
The major, coordinated and complex attack on Guweiran prison is a multi-layered narrative that has yet to come to a conclusion but still tells us much as to the state of ISIS in the region and its current strategy. Attacking prisons is by no means a new tactic adopted by ISIS or indeed other non-state groups across the globe. Tactically such attacks place huge pressure on security forces whose primary role is to keep dangerous men inside a prison rather stop armed actors attacking from outside. What is more if the attacks are successful then suddenly the size of the attacking force is multiplied when former prisoners join their ranks.
In this instance they targeted the largest ISIS-designated prison in NE Syria, which held several thousand adult males and 700 children, a perfect combination of reinforcements and human shields. The attack struck against all sides of the prison and a simultaneous bombing of a nearby SDF facility sowed confusion and the chaos of the moment. Fighting metastasized over several days with over 100 dead and panic forcing the displacement of tens of thousands of Syrians. Entire neighbourhoods have suddenly emptied, despite the harsh winter in the area, a reminder of the fear that the group inspires as well as the intensity of the fighting.
The US-led Coalition, which was almost disbanded by former President Trump in light of the ISIS ‘defeat’ three years ago, provided air and ground support which was likely a vital component in the SDF being able to reassert control over events. At the time of writing the situation remains fluid with no confirmation that all prisoners and attackers are accounted for. Analysts have been quick to describe the events as evidence of a ‘resurgence’ of ISIS with ramifications for the geopolitics of the region and beyond.
The ambition and capacity of what remains of ISIS is clearly a threat that the SDF cannot handle easily by themselves. Yet the continued purgatory of the detention of thousands of fighters and their families, many of whom come from countries across the globe, cannot be an issue that the Kurdish administration are left to handle on their own. If ISIS had been successful at releasing thousands of their fighters, the scenarios and prospects for a renewed crescendo of violence is clear for all to see.
Let us not forget that ISIS grew out of a "Breaking the Walls" campaign of prison breaks in Iraq back in 2012. The planning that has gone into this most recent attack continues to speak to the levels of organisation that it maintains. According to the SDF it involved not only the forces involved in the direct attacks but also sleeper cells, suicide bombers and an insurrection inside the prison. All these assets would have required weapons to be maintained, supply caches to be kept stocked, training camps to operate, and safe houses for fighters and commanders to retreat to in central Syria.
SDF losses in this period of action have not been light and the damage to the physical prison infrastructure appears extensive. All this points to the need of the US-led Coalition to review not only the capabilities of ISIS but more importantly what their plans are to counter them better. Prisons will need to be rebuilt and improved, SDF forces replenished and trained but ultimately the question as to the long-term future of these detainees and their families has to be better grasped and owned. Considering how the prisons act as a rallying point and strategic objectives for ISIS there is an even stronger argument than before to disperse many of the fighters back to the fifty of so countries they’re originally from in order to face justice. The tension in Ukraine, however, is currently dominating the world's bandwidth making even the resurgence of ISIS a sidebar story.
BY: James Denselow
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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