it says here, the US made a deal to give ISIS fighters free passage in return for getting their looted gold
https://themindunleashed.com/2019/02/50-tons-gold-syria-isis.html
hmmmmm. Don't know what to say about that
I don't know, Gunter. Sounds out of character for a group of men who could have slipped out with the fleeing locals ... and with whom suicide bombings are a #1 option.