ISIS Syrian Capital Raqqa Hit by Uprising, Defections

200 militants are said to have switched sides and are now fighting against ISIS

© Stringer / Reuters

A popular uprising in Islamic State stronghold Raqqa reportedly resulted in dozens of deaths as militias clashed with the terrorist group’s fighters. Some 200 militants are said to have switched sides and are fighting against their former comrades.

Several local sources say the clashes in Raqqa have been escalating for several days and resulted in numerous defections from the ranks of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL, also known as Daesh, an Arabic pejorative term).

"About 200 Syrian militants of Daesh took the side of residents of Raqqa, which forced the terrorists to organize roadblocks at the entrance to the city," one source told Sputnik.

Reports of desertion have been confirmed by Alalam news and Hamrin news.

The black IS flag has been replaced

with the national flags of Syria

After heavy clashes with IS fighters on Sunday, its former members helped the locals secure at least five neighborhoods in the city, where the black IS flag has been replaced with the national flags of Syria.

According to witness reports, Raqqa citizens now control the al-Dareiyeh, al-Ramileh, al-Ferdows, al-Ajili and al-Bakri neighborhoods.

"The split within the organization occurred as a result of internal differences in their ranks, and led to armed clashes and dozens of deaths,” a source told Hamrin news.

Sources on the ground for Alalam news explained that many fighters are trying to escape Islamic State clutches as the Syrian Army and Kurdish fighters have made a number of advances around the city, and against IS positions across the country.

Of course, who wants to be on the losing side when losing means death? These are most likely men who are not radical Islamists or they would gladly be martyred to go to Paradise with their 72 virgins. Or, it could be that they are just smart enough to realize the absurdity of that concept.

"Since October of 2015, the Syrian Army has captured some 50 villages in eastern Aleppo during an offensive which halted the ISIL-imposed siege on Kuweires Airbase," the sources said.

The city of Raqqa is considered to be the Daesh capital and their major stronghold in Syria. It has been under the control of the jihadists since August 2014. Currently the Syrian Army and the Kurdish militias are carrying out offensives to liberate the city from the terrorist group.

"Furthermore, government forces have advanced along the M45-highway (Hama to Raqqa) and reached the Western side of Raqqa province. Meanwhile, Kurdish fighters of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have taken firm control of the Northern region of the Raqqa province," the sources added.

So, is this an ad-hoc event or is it the beginnings of a complete collapse of ISIS? It shouldn't take long to find out. Should ISIS collapse and go underground, would Syria turn on the YPG in an effort to re-take all of Syria? Will the Kurds relinquish the territory they have fought so long and hard to win. Will Erdogan go ballistic if the Kurds formed a new state on the border of Turkey? 

While there is some reason for measured optimism from this weekend's happenings, peace is still a long way from occurring, especially in northern Syria.