SDF arrests local ISIS leader with coalition support

“The detained individual was planning to carry out terrorist assaults, assassination, and attacks against civilians.”
Special Anti-Terror Forces (HAT) linked to Syrian Kurdish Asayish (Photo: SDF’s Coordination and Military Operations Centre)
Special Anti-Terror Forces (HAT) linked to Syrian Kurdish Asayish (Photo: SDF’s Coordination and Military Operations Centre)

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced the arrest of a local ISIS leader in Deir al-Zor on Thursday.

“The detained individual was planning to carry out terrorist assaults, assassination, and attacks against civilians, security/military units, and tribe leaders,” said the SDF’s Coordination and Military Operations Center.

The SDF also said weapons and equipment were seized.

The official Twitter account of the CJTF-OIR (Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve), the US-led coalition against ISIS, said the success of the SDF and the US-led coalition against ISIS in northeast Syria this week “will impede the terrorists group’s ability to recruit members and finance its terrorist activities.” 

Anti-terror units linked to local Syrian Kurdish-led Internal Security Forces (Asayish in Kurdish) arrested two suspected ISIS facilitators near the Iraqi border this week. 

Read More: SDF arrests 2 ISIS facilitators near Iraqi border

The SDF and the coalition regularly carry out such operations against ISIS to prevent the militant group from making a resurgence in the region. The number of ISIS attacks in northeast Syria has increased since the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in April.