Raqqa Internal Security Forces
Members of the unit showcase an Asayish flag.
Active17 May 2017 - present
AllegianceSyrian Democratic Forces
TypePolice
RoleSecurity and policing
Sizec. 1,200
Part ofInternal Security Forces
Garrison/HQRaqqa, Ayn Issa
Commanders
General commanderEdrees Hamo ("Edrees Raqqa")[1][2]
SpokesmanIdris Muhammad[3]

The Raqqa Internal Security Forces (RISF) (Arabic: قوات الأمن الداخلي في الرقة, romanized: Quwwāt al-ʾAmn ad-Dāḵilī fi'r-Raqqah) are a police unit that was formed in 2017 by the Syrian Democratic Forces, supported by the United States and Jordan, to handle the security in southern Raqqa Governorate, including Raqqa city, after the region's conquest from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The United States provide the majority of funding for the force and consider it to be part of the Syrian opposition.[4] The RISF also have their own Quick Reaction Force.[5]

History

Members of the unit in Ayn Issa.

On 17 May 2017, the Raqqa Internal Security Forces (RISF) were established as new police unit, with the first training course being set up in Ayn Issa.[6] The first 50 recruits were all Arab[7] men and women,[8] some of them former members of the Asayish, and trained by U.S. and Jordanian instructors "on how to conduct patrols, diffuse disputes, deal with car bombs and suicide bombers, and how to man a checkpoint".[7] After the graduation of this first batch of police officers, the unit was gradually expanded, also recruiting Kurds;[1][9] the long-term goal for the unit is to have at least 3,000 members in order to enforce law and order in Raqqa and restore stability.[7]

The RISF further expanded on 20 July, as 250 more recruits finished their training; by this point, the unit had around 800 members and was already policing various areas in the Raqqa Governorate.[10][11] By early August, 230 additional recruits graduated and joined the force, bringing it to around 850 members.[12] Further 320 recruits completed their training in August.[3][2] By 16 August, the RISF was around 80% Arab and 20% Kurdish according to CJTF–OIR.[13]

RISF also began to release Islamic State members from prison who had only worked with, and not fought for, the organization. These pardons were facilitated by the Raqqa Civil Council, which wanted to gain the support of Raqqa Governorate's population, much of which had cooperated with or at least tolerated Islamic State.[14][15][16]

After the end of the Battle of Raqqa in October 2017, the Syrian Democratic Forces gradually began to hand over security responsibilities in the city to the RISF, beginning with the al-Mashleb neighborhood in November.[17] By December 2017, the Raqqa Internal Security Forces had also begun policing Ayn Issa and surrounding areas.[18]

In May 2018, tensions built up between members of Arab tribes, most notably the Syrian Democratic Forces group Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa, and the rest of the alliance and the RISF over recruitment issues in Raqqa. A curfew was put in place in both Raqqa city and the rest of the governorate on 23 June, as the Syrian Democratic Forces and RISF besieged Thuwar al-Raqqa's headquarters and arrested between 90[19] and 200 of its members the next day.[20] By 25 June, the Syrian Democratic Forces and RISF had captured all of Thuwar al-Raqqa fighters and their weapons in Raqqa, completely defeating the group, and the curfew was ended.[21]

References

  1. 1 2 Hisham Arafat (27 May 2017). "Raqqa Internal Security established by Kurdish-led SDF". Kurdistan 24. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  2. 1 2 "70 members joined Interior Security Forces". Hawar News Agency. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  3. 1 2 Mahmoud Bali (16 August 2017). "Raqqa Residents Graduate from Security Training to Hold City After IS". Voice of America. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  4. ↑ Wladimir van Wilgenburg (27 August 2017). "Coalition commander says Raqqa police force paid by US as vetted force". ARA News. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  5. ↑ @OIRSpox (December 20, 2017). "Raqqah Internal Security Force troops help one other adjust protective vests & fit helmets during the 2nd week of Q…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. ↑ Wladimir van Wilgenburg (17 May 2017). "US-led coalition trains Raqqa Internal Forces to run post-ISIS city". ARA News. Archived from the original on May 23, 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 "Anti-IS coalition trains policemen for Syria's Raqqa". Middle East Eye. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  8. ↑ Rikar Hussein; Ahed Al Hendi (25 May 2017). "US-backed Syrian Forces Step Up Training Ahead of Raqqa Offensive". Voice of America. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  9. ↑ "Other 150 elements joined Internal Security Forces". Hawar News Agency. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  10. ↑ "Some 250 residents join US-trained security force for Raqqa". Zaman al-Wasl. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  11. ↑ "The International Coalition Forces form the Internal Security Forces in Al-Raqqah and oversee their training and arming". SOHR. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  12. ↑ Wladimir van Wilgenburg (5 August 2017). "Hundreds of security forces trained to protect Raqqa city in post-ISIS era". ARA News. Archived from the original on August 5, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Department of Defense Press Briefing by Colonel Dillon via Teleconference From Baghdad, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  14. ↑ Rikar Hussein; Mahmoud Bali (16 August 2017). "US-backed Syrian Group Pardons 96 IS Members in Raqqa". Voice of America. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  15. ↑ Wladimir van Wilgenburg (6 August 2017). "Raqqa police forces release 23 ISIS suspects". ARA News. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  16. ↑ "Asayish forces in Al-Raqqah release dozens of detainees who had charges related to the "Islamic state" organization". SOHR. 13 August 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  17. ↑ "SDF hand over security tasks in al- Mashleb to Security Forces". Hawar News Agency. 15 November 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  18. ↑ "Internal Security Forces in Ain Issa are working hard to achieve security and safety". Syrian Democratic Forces press. 23 December 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  19. ↑ "SDF forces impose curfew in Syria's Raqqa, citing instability, Islamic State attacks". Middle East Eye. 24 June 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  20. ↑ "Raqqa city on lockdown as US-backed forces clash with local Arab faction". Syria Direct. 25 June 2018.
  21. ↑ "Internal Security ended emergency state". Hawar News Agency. 25 June 2018.
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