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Source: https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/ISIS-gearing-up-for-comeback-in-Syria-and-beyond-578229
Islamic State Leaving Syria for Iraq's Anbar Desert
(Media Line-Jerusalem Post) Dima Abumaria - The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights last week revealed that more than 2,000 civilians, along with nearly 200 ISIS members embedded among them, fled the Deir ez-Zor region in eastern Syria. Abdul Rahman, Director of the SOHR, said at least 20,000 people - including ISIS fighters and mercenaries from places such as Iraq and Somalia - have left the area since the beginning of December. "The Islamic State is moving from that area to another large geographical spot extending from Syria to the desert of Anbar [in Iraq]," said Nizar Abd al-Qader, a former Lebanese army general. At the same time, ISIS is not totally vacating Syria as there are few forces there standing in the way of its re-emergence. He predicted that ISIS will continue to pose a significant threat, as it reverts to guerilla attacks launched from remote bases and activates sleeper cells inside Syrian residential areas.