Syria Arrests Two Suspected ISIS Members over Assassinations in Deir Ezzor

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Syrian security forces have arrested two suspected members of the Islamic State (ISIS) group in the eastern governorate of Deir Ezzor, accusing them of carrying out a series of assassinations, including the killing of a member of the Defense Ministry, authorities said on Sunday.

In a statement, the Internal Security Forces said the arrests followed what they described as “close intelligence surveillance,” conducted in coordination with the General Intelligence Directorate.

The two suspects were allegedly involved in several targeted killings across the governorate, with their most recent attack targeting Ibrahim al-Jassem, a Defense Ministry member, in the city of Mayadin.

The authorities said the operation also led to the seizure of weapons and ammunition found in a hideout allegedly used by the cell. Investigations are continuing to establish the suspects’ connections and prepare their cases for judicial proceedings.

The arrests come as Syria’s new authorities continue efforts to dismantle ISIS networks following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024.

Since taking power, the authorities have repeatedly announced operations against suspected ISIS members and affiliated cells, particularly amid concerns that the group could exploit security gaps during the country’s political and institutional transition.

ISIS remains a threat despite territorial defeat

ISIS seized large areas of Syria and neighboring Iraq in 2014, declaring a self-proclaimed caliphate and imposing its rule over millions of people. The group lost its last major territorial strongholds in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria in 2019 following military campaigns by local forces and an international coalition.

Despite losing control of territory, ISIS has continued to operate through dispersed cells, relying on assassinations, ambushes, bombings and attacks against security personnel and government targets.

Its reduced territorial presence has not eliminated its ability to carry out sporadic attacks or exploit instability.

A recent analysis by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) project said ISIS activity in Syria declined in 2026, averaging around 14 events per month during the first seven months of the year, compared with an average of 29 per month in 2025.

However, the group continues to maintain an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 fighters operating in small cells across the country, according to the analysis.

The group has increasingly focused its operations on the Syrian state and its security structures, with attacks and reported assassination plots targeting government personnel and senior figures.

The analysis also warned that the country’s fragile transition could create opportunities for militant networks to exploit security vulnerabilities.

Security concerns extend to Damascus

Syrian authorities have also blamed ISIS for a bombing in Damascus in July, which occurred during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron. The government said it had dismantled the cell responsible for the attack.

A report presented to the United Nations Security Council in July estimated that ISIS had around 3,000 fighters in Syria. It also documented several thwarted plots against Syrian officials, including President Ahmed al-Sharaa, underscoring the group's continued interest in targeting the country's new leadership.

The latest arrests in Deir Ezzor highlight the security challenges facing the authorities beyond the capital, particularly in eastern Syria, where ISIS has maintained networks and carried out attacks despite years of military operations against the group.

For Damascus, preventing the resurgence of ISIS remains a significant test as it seeks to extend state security institutions across the country and stabilize a nation emerging from years of conflict.