MOSCOW — Alexander Bortnikov, head of Russia's Federal Security Service, claimed Western intelligence services are attempting to use militant ISIL fighters as proxy forces against Iran. Bortnikov made the statement on May 26 during a meeting of intelligence officials from eight former Soviet nations.
Bortnikov did not specify which Western nation's intelligence service he referenced or provide evidence to support his claim, such as intercepted communications or photographs. He reiterated previous assertions from his agency that Western intelligence created and trained ISIL. "Western intelligence services don't give up on their attempts to utilise militant terrorists from Syria as proxy forces in the war against Iran," Bortnikov said. He added, "ISIL's history began back in the day in similar Iraqi prison compounds that were overseen by special services of the Western coalition fighting in Iraq."
Last February, the United States began transporting thousands of imprisoned fighters linked to ISIL from detention centers in northeastern Syria to Iraq. Kurdish-dominated forces in northeastern Syria had previously detained up to 9,000 ISIL fighters. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa decided to join the anti-ISIL coalition and regain control of northeastern areas previously controlled by Kurdish-dominated forces.
No intelligence officials who attended the summit publicly supported Bortnikov's allegations. Russian state-controlled media published limited coverage of his speech. Russian President Vladimir Putin has not publicly repeated these specific claims regarding former ISIL fighters.
Gennady Gudkov, a former KGB officer and lawmaker, called the claim unsubstantiated. "These are just words, without any proof, not even an attempt to back them with details or facts," Gudkov said. He added, "When all control over them was gone, they understood they could lie about anything at all, and no one could check them."
Nikolay Mitrokhin, an academic expert, suggested the statements reflect internal messaging. "Bortnikov's analysts interpreted their messages, adding a political construction about what they don't necessarily share but containing what Putin wants to hear," Mitrokhin said. He also stated, "Statements by Russian special services are always enigmatic and based on unknown premises, but deciphering them is easy."
Ruslan Suleymanov, a policy analyst, said the claim lacks substantiation. "Bortnikov's claim is a bit far-fetched. So far, this information is mostly rumours," Suleymanov said. In October 2025, Bortnikov addressed a gathering of former Soviet intelligence chiefs to accuse British intelligence of disrupting peace negotiations and attempting to damage energy infrastructure.
Russian intelligence previously allowed thousands of radicals from the North Caucasus to travel to ISIL-controlled areas in Syria and Iraq. Russian intelligence recruited agents or informers among these individuals, often using pressure on their relatives in Russia. Several of these detained individuals have since been relocated to Iraq and have communicated with their handlers in Russia. Some former members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham relocated from Syria to eastern and southeastern Afghanistan, where the ISIL affiliate in Khorasan Province operates.