Idlib city and its countryside have witnessed a serious escalation in the activities of Islamic State cells. On Wednesday morning, activists from the Syrian Observatory documented paper leaflets distributed in several areas of Idlib city and its countryside. The leaflets include condemnation of certain actions by the transitional government, carried Islamic State slogans, and threatening the return of the organization and its activities.

The leaflets also included threats against the transitional government and condemnation of its actions, stating: 'What you see as liberation today and rush to celebrate is merely a role exchange with an Islamic facade, from which Islam is innocent.'

The organization also threatened in its leaflets with the imminent return of the Islamic State.

According to local sources, these leaflets have sparked anxiety and questions among residents about the reasons and motives behind this move, amid the security laxity observed in areas under the control of the National Army and the transitional government.

Previously, on November 29, the Observatory documented graffiti threatening the return of the Islamic State on the walls of schools in the town of Mahkan and the city of Al-Quriyah, in areas controlled by the transitional government east of Deir ez-Zor.

The graffiti read: "The Islamic State remains. We’re coming for you, dogs of the coalition. The Islamic State will return."  This created a state of panic and fear among local residents.

The Syrian Observatory notes that the increasing appearance of the organization's slogans in various areas reflects signs of growing activity by its cells in regions under the transitional government’s control.