ISIS on the Borders: A Renewed Threat

Despite its military defeat, ISIS has not disappeared. Instead, it has reorganized itself into small cells along the Syria–Iraq and Syria–Lebanon borders. These cells carry out limited operations: bombings, assassinations, and roadside attacks in remote areas such as the Syrian desert, Deir ez‑Zor, and eastern Hasakah. The goal is not to seize territory but to prove existence and test local security capabilities.

Iraqi and Syrian Prisons: Time Bombs

• In January 2026, Hasakah witnessed a major security breach at al‑Shaddadi prison, where dozens of ISIS members escaped. Eighty‑one were recaptured, but others remain at large.

• At the same time, the United States began transferring up to 7,000 ISIS detainees from Syria to Iraq, under the pretext of ensuring their detention in “secure” facilities. Yet this move raises suspicions: is it truly about enhancing security, or recycling the threat inside Iraq?

ISIS Flag in Raqqa: Reality or Deception?

Reports of ISIS raising its flag in Raqqa are claimed by the Syrian state to be media disinformation. In reality, on January 18, 2026, the Syrian government raised its official flag in the city center after the withdrawal of “SDF” forces and the advance of the Syrian army. Any talk of ISIS returning its banner there is seen as part of psychological warfare aimed at exaggerating the group’s threat and justifying foreign interventions.

⚔️ Critical Reading

• The threat persists but has shifted: ISIS no longer controls cities, but exploits security gaps and rugged border terrain.

• Prisons as leverage: Whether through mass escapes or prisoner transfers, prisons remain a tool of blackmail in the hands of major powers.

• Western and Israeli media: They amplify stories of “ISIS resurgence” to justify their military presence in the region, while ignoring that the axis of resistance is the one actually confronting the group on the ground.

Conclusion

Portraying ISIS as if it has raised its flag again in Raqqa may not simply be a media lie, since the Syrian state insists it has regained control there. The real danger lies in sleeper cells along the borders and in the prison file, which could become a new source of explosion if used as a political card. For the axis of resistance, the task is to expose these falsehoods and continue the field confrontation against the remnants of the group, with the understanding that the war on ISIS is not only military but also informational and psychological.