The then-ISI took advantage of the 2011 outbreak of Civil War in neighboring Syria to grow their organisation. Al-Khlifawi moved to an unremarkable house[11] in the small Syrian town of Tell Rifaat, just north of Aleppo in late 2012, along with his wife.[11] It was here where he organised the group's takeover of territory in parts of the country using his experience as a former Intelligence Officer.