In recent weeks, the IS forces have stepped up attacks on troops in Iraq and Syria. Sam Helen, a researcher on terrorism issues, told Deutsche Welle's English service that the group used the Coronavirus outbreak in Iraq and Syria to increase its attacks.

Some experts told the paper that the U.S. had withdrawn its forces, deployed in Syria to support the Kurds, forcing the Kurds to spend part of their military capacity to deal with attacks from Turkey.

The experts warned that Kurds currently do not have sufficient force to counter the IS because they are forced to spend some of their troops preparing for possible Turkey attacks.

The experts have told the German paper that Syrian Kurds cannot carry out operations against the IS as they did in the past because of the corona pandemic outbreak. The U.S. does not have enough forces to support the Kurds in Syria at the moment, so Syrian Kurdish forces are not supported in confronting the IS.

The experts have also warned that the IS is taking power in the disputed areas of Iraq, and the attacks there have increased considerably.

Reporter’s code: 50101