By Anas al-Bar | 2025-12-11

Since its formation, the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) promoted itself as the most fortified jihadist group, claiming that infiltration of its ranks was difficult.

However, over time, this image crumbled, and the group, which had claimed unwavering loyalty from its elements, began to suffer numerous betrayals.

Its secrecy also collapsed as a result of intelligence operations conducted by security agents and secret informants.

Imprisoned elements of the group provided confessions that resulted in the deaths of key leaders within the terrorist group.

Infiltration of cells

Counter-terrorism expert Fadel Abu Raghif said that the group "collapsed from within."

"The planting of secret sources allowed intelligence agencies to play a fundamental role in infiltrating the group's cells," he told Al-Fassel.

Highly accurate data was collected on the true identities of senior terrorists, their movements were tracked and they were targeted.

"Informants helped lead security forces to the group's hideouts, besiege its remnants, and weaken its ability to evade capture," Abu Ragheef said.

He stressed the importance of the terrorists' seized possessions like videos, documents, and publications, which together form "a bank full of vital information."

"Prominent terrorist leaders were captured and neutralized as a result of this," he said.

Abu Ragheef said that digitally monitoring ISIS social media accounts led to successfully "tracking and arresting recruitment networks and thwarting lone wolf attacks globally."

Betrayals among ISIS elements

US military interrogation reports reveal an early pattern of betrayals among elements of the group, which began even before the declaration of the "caliphate" in Mosul in mid-2014.

The treachery of former ISIS leader Muhammed al-Mawla, also Known as Abu Ibrahim al-Qurayshi was exposed in 2021, a year before his death by US forces in Idlib, Syria, in 2022.

While a prisoner in Iraq in 2008, Al-Mawla provided US forces with detailed information during interrogations, including the names, titles, descriptions, and locations of 68 ISIS commanders.

His information resulted in the killing of the second-highest-ranking ISIS figure at the time, the Moroccan Abu Qasoura, by the international coalition in October 2008.

During the "caliphate," the group carried out numerous executions of its elements on charges of treason.

Following its defeat in Iraq and Syria, the capture of its elements during security operations led to a flow of valuable information.

The most prominent figures include Abdul Nasser Qardash, a highly dangerous ISIS leader, and Asmaa Mohammed al-Kubaisi, the widow of former group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

The United States is actively seeking to enhance the counter-terrorism capabilities of its regional and international partners. By coordinating intelligence operations, investigations, and cybersecurity efforts, the intent is to limit terrorist effectiveness.