The regime’s use of barrel bombs has reportedly increased since last year. Residents of Raqqah say it is controlled by some 5,000 fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham, consisting mainly of foreigners, including Iraqis, Tunisians, Gulf Arabs, and Chechens. An ISIS leader was killed fighting regime forces near the 17th Division in Raqqah. ISIS recaptured parts of Markada in Hasakah from the Al Nusrah Front and the Islamic Front. At least 17 Islamic Front fighters were killed battling regime forces near Yabroud in Reef Dimashq. ISIS clashed with Islamic and rebel fighters and the Kurdish Front near Minbej city in Aleppo. Al Nusrah and the Islamic Front fought regime forces in Idlib, in Hama, and in Homs. Al Nusrah released a video showing a suicide attack and raid on Kurdistan Workers’ Party forces in Hasakah on Jan. 25.
