ISIS gang Abdurrahim Xalit İbrahim captured by the YPG stated that Turkey continues to send arms, ammunition and jihadists to ISIS mainly through Jarablus and Til Rai. İbrahim noted that the Turkish aid to ISIS decreased because ISIS-Turkey relations got exposed and the border between ISIS and Turkey got shorter.

Captured by the YPG after the ISIS attack on Girê Spî, ISIS gang Abdurrahim Xalit İbrahim code-named Ebu İslam Xerip spoke to ANF. İbrahim was born in Aleppo, joined ISIS two years ago, stated that ISIS viewed Turkey as an ally. İbrahim said that his main duties were to give ideological and political education, recruit new gangs, and organize the gangs that arrived in Syria via Turkey. İbrahim was captured by the YPG in an office building near Siluk after the ISIS attack on Girê Spî.

Regarding the relations between Turkey and ISIS, İbrahim said that the two entities had shared ideologies and goals, and would never fight one another. İbrahim stated that ISIS viewed Turkey as an ally and the two entities collaborated numerous times in the past, so a war between Turkey and ISIS would never break out.

'TRANSPORTATION WAS CARRIED OUT THROUGH GIRE SPI'

İbrahim highlighted the importance of the Girê Spî border gate for ISIS and said that the majority of supplies entered Syria through here. İbrahim said that ISIS used the Girê Spî border gate and secret underground tunnels to smuggle jihadists from all around the world into Syria, and the border gate served as ISIS’ lifeline because the majority of military and food supply transportation took place through here. İbrahim emphasized the friendly nature of Turkey-ISIS relations, and said that these relations continue today despite the YPG’s liberation of Girê Spî. İbrahim added that Turkey continues to send arms, ammunition and jihadists to ISIS mainly through Jarablus and Til Rai today, and the Turkish aid to ISIS decreased because the border between ISIS and Turkey got shorter.

'TRANSPORTATION FROM TURKEY WAS OFFICIAL'

İbrahim stated that transportation from Turkey via Girê Spî, Jarablus and Til Ria was carried out officially, and nighttime was chosen in order to avoid coalition warplanes and press coverage. İbrahim said that couriers led the transportation of jihadists as part of the agreement ISIS had made with Turkey, and ISIS militants welcomed the incoming gangs 1 km away from the Turkish border and took them to Raqqa. İbrahim underlined that the Turkish state turned a blind eye to this route and never caused a problem, and the Turkish intelligence approved all of the border crossings.

‘JARABLUS AND THE REGION TO ITS SOUTHWEST ARE OPEN FOR US’

Captured ISIS gang İbrahim stated that ISIS sent petroleum, wheat and other materials to Turkey in exchange for arms, ammunition and supplies, and Jarablus became the only border with Turkey after the YPG’s liberation of Girê Spî. İbrahim said that Jarablus and the region to its southwest were open for ISIS, and the gangs have been using this area for logistical purposes. İbrahim noted that the YPG’s liberation of Girê Spî reduced the flow of goods and militants between ISIS and Turkey, but this flow continues today through Jarablus and Til Rai.

‘SENIOR ISIS MEMBERS IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES CARRIED OUT THE TRADE’

The captured gang stated that certain ISIS members were chosen to carry out the trade with Turkey, and hundreds of vehicles crossed the border everyday as part of this trade. İbrahim noted that ISIS gangs responsible for the trade with Turkey were senior administrators and wore civilian clothes, and ISIS sent petroleum, wheat and other materials to Turkey in exchange for arms, ammunition, supplies and the treatment of injured gangs in Turkish hospitals. İbrahim added that the trade between ISIS and Turkey became more secretive after the bombardment of petroleum tankers near the border and the exposure of Turkey-ISIS relations.