ISIS continues to escalate its attacks in the areas under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) by targeting medical and nursing staff. The recent escalation threatens any potential relief and medical work in those areas.

It is worth mentioning that civilians are deprived of food and healthcare as a result of the closure of the illegal Semalka border crossing with SDF-controlled areas by Iraq’s Kurdistan region authorities. The closure of the border had a significant impact on the humanitarian operations.

Al Mayadeen Net sources from inside Al-Hol refugee camp confirmed that some of the camp's residents claimed that they were sick, and during their visit to the medical clinic run by the Kurdish Red Crescent, they shot and killed nurse Mohammad Mohammad.

The Kurdish Red Crescent suspended all its activities inside the camp and withdrew all its medical staff in the aftermath of the event.

In a separate incident, unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle shot and killed doctor Abed Al-Mufdi, near Al-Kindi Hospital in the center of the town of Al-Tayana, east of Deir Ezzor.

A growing threat

During the previous month, nine cases of assassination using sharp objects or a pistol with a built-in silencer have been reported at Al-Hol camp, with charges directed against ISIS cells "within the camp”.

Meanwhile, SDF militants threatened to kill a number of women and children in the camp who expressed support and/or allegiance to ISIS.

The activities of the organization's cells in the Al-Hol camp show that there is direct contact with ISIS members held in SDF jails, who are using the camp's activities to pressure the SDF into improving their prison conditions and bring them to trial.

The SDF holds about 12,000 detainees from 50 nations in a number of prisons in the Governorate of Al-Hasakah. 

Meanwhile, around 60,000 people live at Al-Hol refugee camp, with a notably large number of ISIS members' wives and children among them who are known as the "cubs of the caliphate”.