SUMMARY

In January 2014, large-scale anti-IS offensives were launched by coalitions of opposition factions on several fronts throughout Syria. In Deir ez Zor gorvernorate the fighting mainly consisted of Authenticity and Development Front, Islamic Front, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham - IS and IS - Mujahideen Shura Council. An IS offensive April-July ended with IS in full control of the province, with the exception of government controlled Deir ez Zor city.

Following IS's victory, portions of Authenticity and Development Front covertly remained behind in the province as a military formation known as the White Shroud (Al-Kafn Al-Abyad), which conducted targeted assassinations of IS members in the area between Albu Kamal town and Deir ez Zor city. White Shroud has been estimated to have consisted of around 300 members in 2014, mainly in Albu Kamal. Most of the Authenticity and Development Front fled Deir ez Zor and set up in other areas, mainly in the Qalamoun mountains of Rif Dimashq, where they fought IS in other constellations (e.g. Eastern Qalamoun Operations Room - IS and IS - Jaysh Asoud al-Sharqiya, Martyr Lieutenant Ahmed Abdou Brigades).