Saturday 9 July 2016

Turkish Intelligence Reveals ISIL’s most important route for Raqqah

Investigations into the bomb attack that targeted the HDP (Peoples' Democratic Party) rally in Diyarbakir Province on June 5, 2015 led Turkish Intelligence to the discovery of ISIL’s most important transport route for Raqqah

According recent Turkish Intelligence reports Ilhami Bali aka “Ebu Bekir”, an ISIL’s border emir who is wanted by the Turkish Interior Ministry for his involvement in the June 5 attack, had set up a transport route via Gaziantep-Kilis-Raqqah.

Turkish Intelligence Reveals ISIL’s most important route for Raqqah
Gaziantep-Kilis-Raqqah
Turkish Intelligence gathered informations that discovered a transport and logistics network setted up by Bali, Mustafa Demir aka “Ebu Ali”, Okkes Karabeyli aka “Ebu Sumeyye”, and Deniz Buyukcelebi aka “Ebu Enes” that required the collaboration of transport personnel, taxi drivers, smugglers, and porters.

Transportation and Logistics


Based on information retrieved by Turkish Intelligence from telephone records, an ISIL’s emir issues a reference known as “teskiye” for the jihadists and their families who wish to join the organization, and he instructs them to get to Gaziantep Province by bus or plane.

The list of the people due to arrive is then given to the organization’s customs unit that is known as “administration” which handles the border crossing. The customs unit passes on the names of those who arrive to Ilhami Bali who then takes over. Once in Gaziantep, jihadists call Bali to announce their arrival. Bali then confirms the community the jihadists are assigned to and the name of the emir who issued the reference after which he asks them to take a taxi to one of the 10 meeting points controlled by the organization.

ISIL Warehouse in Gaziantep


According Turkish Intelligence reports once they reach one of the meeting points recommended by Bali, the jihadists are met by an agent sent by a certain “Ebu Same” who takes them to guest houses that are used by ISIL as meeting locations either in Gaziantep or Kilis
After that, one of the nine taxi drivers who work for Bali takes the jihadists to the second meeting point in the town of Elbeyli in the province of Kilis. Jihadists pay a small fee of $15 to be taken by smugglers working for Huseyin Hano into ISIL-controlled areas. 

Depending on the size of the group of jihadists, a number of vehicles and porters are sent to carry the people’s luggage. Facilitating border crossing requires leaving jihadists’ excess luggage behind in a warehouse that is used by the organization in Gaziantep

Turkish Intelligence revealed that after crossing the border, the jihadists are taken by taxis to the customs unit where they complete their entry procedures. At that point, female jihadists are taken to the women’s guest house that is run by Deniz Buyukcelebi aka Ebu Enes, and the men are taken to a camp in Tall Ahmar. After completing their training, jihadists are taken to Raqqah and surrounding areas under the authority of the emir who issued the references.

Border crossing during Cobra’s Change of Guard


Border crossings from Syria into Turkey are handled by Mustafa Demir aka “Ebu Ali”. Bali monitors the process very closely and is constantly receiving updates until the jihadists reach Gaziantep Airport. 
A delegation called “hijra committee” at the customs unit thoroughly interrogates those leaving on their “hijrah” (in reference to the journey made by Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622).

Turkish Intelligence Reveals ISIL’s most important route for Raqqah
Border crossings are handled by Mustafa Demir
Following the interrogation, those that are deemed good candidates to cross into Turkey are given permit papers called “Documents” by an emir called “Ebu Sam” and are asked to wait in one of the organization’s houses near the border. When the smugglers declare the border safe to cross, the jihadists are taken into Turkey.  

The crossings are timed to coincide with the Cobra’s change of guard. Turkish Intelligence revealed that smugglers that work without the knowledge of ISIL emirs are captured by villagers as ordered by the organization and are punished. Young people without luggage are given priority and cross the borders faster because they are used as fighters.

Recruits are not allowed to leave ISIL-controlled areas without a valid reason, and those who attempt to cross into Turkey without authorization are placed in the organization’s prison in Raqqah.

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