ISIS gangs had attacked the towns of Girê Spi and Siluk on February 27, and the clashes in 25 different locations had lasted 2 days. Hundreds of ISIS gangs were killed and tens of gangs were captured during the attacks.

It has become certain that Turkey planned the recent ISIS attacks on Girê Spi and Siluk. Ahmet Hacı Layıh joined ISIS two years ago and was captured by YPG forces in Siluk on March 1. He stated that Turkish intelligence and military units transported ISIS gangs from Jarablus to Girê Spi and Siluk, and Turkish forces attacked Girê Spi from the north as ISIS gangs attacked the town from the east, south and west.

'WE WERE TRANSPORTED BY TURKISH FORCES'

Ahmet Hacı Layıh was born in the Mıxtelta village of Siluk, joined ISIS two years ago, and fought in Çelebiyê during the ISIS attack on Kobanê. Layıh also fought in Tabka and Hadle, and was staying in Jarablus before he was brought to Turkey by Turkish forces. Layıh said that a man called Ömer Timsah helped ISIS gangs communicate with the Turkish intelligence, who secretly transported the gangs from Jarablus to Girê Spi and Siluk through Turkish territory. Layıh stated that ISIS commander Xalıt Taci and Ömer Timsah told the gangs that they should contact Taci and Timsah if any gang got injured, and promised that Turkish soldiers would transport the gangs back to Jarablus through Turkey if the attack failed.

'TURKISH SOLDIERS ESCAPED WHEN THE CLASHES INTENSIFIED'

Layıh stated that ISIS gangs were transported from Jarablus to Girê Spi and Siluk in 5 groups, and each group had nearly 50 gang members. The five groups waited in cell houses near Girê Spi and Siluk a couple days before the attack, and Turkish soldiers attached Girê Spi from the north when the gangs began their assault. However, Layıh said that the Turkish soldiers betrayed ISIS gangs and escaped the region when the clashes intensified.

'THE MAJORITY OF ISIS ARE TURKS'

Captured ISIS gang Layıh said that there were many Tajiks among the groups that attacked Girê Spi and Siluk, and many ISIS members and Turkish intelligence agents did not know each another but called one other ‘brother.’ Layıh also noted that wounded ISIS gangs traveled to Turkey for receiving medical treatment.

Layıh stated that he witnessed the beheading of a Syrian soldier in Tabka Airport, and women captured by ISIS were sold or exchanged because they were spoils of war. Layıh said that the Turkish intelligence sent guns, ammunitions and supplies through cargo cars carrying aid materials to ISIS.

According to Layıh, the majority of ISIS fighters are of Turkish origin, but Kurds and Turkmens also fought in ISIS ranks. He noted that the main reason behind the Turkish support for ISIS was that ISIS was fighting the PYD.

Layıh said that Êzîdî women and children were kept in camps in Mosul and Aleppo, and he himself was married to a woman from the Rimelê village of Siluk. Layıh’s wife and one child are currently in Raqqa.

Layıh stated that he feels betrayed because Turkish soldiers did not enter Girê Spi as planned, and only 5 members of his group survived after the clashes with YPG and YPJ forces. Layıh was injured and later captured as he was trying to escape back to the Turkish border.

'CENTER OF OUR RELATIONS WITH TURKEY'

ISIS gang Kayıh stated that Girê Spi was of strategic importance for Turkey because it was the center of ISIS-Turkey relations. Kayıh noted that guns, munitions, supplies and militants were transported from Turkey to Syria through Girê Spi until the town was captured by the PYD. According to Kayıh, PYD’s capture of Girê Spi inflicted a major blow to ISIS.

Layıh’s account of Turkish soldiers’ withdrawal from Girê Spi confirms eyewitness statements on the issue, and clarifies Turkey’s role in the planning of ISIS attacks on Girê Spi and Siluk.