ISIS was destroyed, but what happened to ISIS militants and their families?
Not all ISIS militants are Iraqi and Syrian Arabs or Kurds, as one might think. They are also Muslims from different ethnic groups, citizens of Russia, Turkish citizens, EU countries, Turkic Republics and even Uighurs from China. Therefore, no one dares to either recruit or destroy the terrorists.
After capturing Mosul for a while, ISIS reached the peak of its power and reached our borders in Syria. Thus, it became the most dangerous terrorist organisation not only for us but also for almost the whole world. So much so that all states and terrorist organisations trying to be effective in Iraq and Syria have united on a single common point. This common point was to break the power of ISIS and then destroy the organisation.
Accordingly, the Turkish army launched an operation in Al Bab. The US, using its air force, bombed ISIS targets intensively. On the other hand, the US supported and strengthened the PYD, which has become the most important terrorist organisation for Turkey. It gave artillery, mortars, anti-tank weapons and armoured vehicles. US special forces trained, equipped and prepared operational plans for PYD terrorists and used them against ISIS.
Despite its rival status with the US, Russia also dropped bombs on ISIS targets. Assad forces organised operations against ISIS with Russian air support. On the other hand, the Iraqi state and Barzani forces organised operations against ISIS together with US special forces. As a result, the territories controlled by ISIS in Iraq and Syria were captured. ISIS has been weakened and is on the verge of extinction. However, the organisation is still trying to survive, despite the fact that it has been losing its leadership through continuous US and, more recently, Turkish pinpoint operations. However, most of its militants have been destroyed.
Nevertheless, a large number of ISIS militants have managed to survive. Some of them disappeared in Iraq and Syria, blending in with the population. Many militants surrendered to the Iraqi armed forces and the PYD. Although this situation is not publicised, it has created a big and intractable problem. The problem stemmed from the inability to decide what to do with the large number of captured militants and their wives and children.
Pictures and news reports were published in the media showing them being kept in some buildings in PYD-controlled areas without food, water and in a miserable condition, almost stacked up. For some reason, the EU countries, which from time to time intervene in the detention of PKK and other terrorist organisations' militants in much better conditions under the pretext of human rights violations, have not made any noise so far.
The EU and Russia, as if in agreement, have not made a single comment on this issue. China, on the other hand, is content with following the events silently but carefully. Turkish authorities have not made any explicit statement in this direction either. In the face of this situation, only one question inevitably comes to mind: "Why?"
There is only one apparent reason. No one wants to be in the position of supporting an organisation that commits such brutal acts. But the situation is not that simple. The real reason is that all countries still see these imprisoned ISIS militants as a threat. And this threat is even greater than it was when these militants were slaughtering thousands of people in Iraq and Syria like sheep. The magnitude of this threat stems from the structure of the organisation and some characteristics of the militants.
The biggest structural problem of the organisation is the ethnic identity of its militants. Not all ISIS militants are Iraqi and Syrian Arabs or Kurds as it is believed. In addition to them, there are Muslims from different ethnic groups, citizens of Russia, Turkish citizens, citizens of EU countries, people from Turkic Republics and even Uighur Turks from China. Therefore, no one dares either to take in terrorists or to destroy them. This is because killing their own citizens might draw the reaction of other countries. But almost everyone is in the mood that someone should kill them so that we can get rid of them.
And these militants are not alone. Most of them came with their wives and children and settled in the ISIS region when the Islamic State was established. In other words, there are more women and children than militants. They cannot destroy them and they cannot take them into their country. The wives of some of the militants are women from Iraq, Syria or other countries. There are also women who were considered as spoils of war and made concubines. Their religions and ethnicities are also mixed. As such, the dispute over which country will take whom cannot be resolved.
However, recently these captive terrorist organisation members seem to have fallen off the agenda. Either most of them have died of starvation and disease, or they are still living in miserable detention somewhere, or they have been smuggled into Turkey under the guise of refugees.
If the last possibility is even partially true, the migrant problem in our country is not only a migrant problem, but also a terrorist problem. Imagine that they are scattered in different parts of our country. So far, they have organised themselves everywhere and they have attracted some local people to their side. If so, they may mobilise in a crisis. Then woe to us. Measures must be taken while there is time. One day, when bombs start exploding everywhere, the measures to be taken will be of no use to anyone.
