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"White Shrouds" Mobilize Against ISIS in Syria

(Daily Star-Lebanon) Marlin Dick - Last month's sweeping territorial gains by militants from ISIS in Syria's Deir al-Zor province have generated a fierce counter-offensive by locals, organized loosely in "popular resistance" groups. Small, clandestine groups calling themselves "white shrouds" have adopted a low-profile tactic of assassinating ISIS militants and attacking their positions. In the last few weeks a string of small-scale, hit-and-run attacks have been reported in more than half a dozen villages between Deir al-Zor and the border town of Al-Bukamal, where a demonstration by residents against ISIS late last month was dispersed by gunfire. Some supporters of the movement against ISIS are referring to the actions as a "tribal intifada." An observer said ISIS was largely to blame for the counter-offensive because it had violated the non-aggression pacts struck with locals. Referring to areas purported to be under ISIS control in northern and eastern Syria, the observer said: "You can't control a population of 5 or 6 million people with a few thousand fighters unless you adhere to your agreement with them - otherwise, you'll need fighters everywhere."
2014-08-07 00:00:00
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