SDF kills ISIS leader in operation in Deir al-Zor  

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) killed an alleged ISIS leader on Monday in its latest operation in Deir al-Zor, the SDF press office said on Tuesday.

During a joint SDF and US-led coalition air landing operation in Deir al-Zor's al-Hawaij, one ISIS leader was "neutralized" Monday night after refusing to surrender and opening fire on counterterrorism forces.

"The terrorist," the SDF said, was involved in a plan to attack Gweiran prison in al-Hasakah province last November, an attempt the Kurdish-led forces thwarted then by arresting several suspects involved, including cell leader Mohamed Abid al-Awad.

Read More: Kurdish-led SDF defuses ISIS car bomb near Syria's Hasakah

The SDF said they found several weapons and an explosive belt when searching the house where he was hiding.

The official Twitter account of the US-led Special Operations Joint Task Force-Levant (SOJTF LEVANT) also confirmed the Monday operation.

"No other personnel were injured or taken off site. The @cmoc_sdf (SDF) work tirelessly to keep northern Syria safe from these criminal networks and to defeat Daesh," the SOJTF said.

Despite the SDF and the US-led coalition announcing the defeat of the extremist group's so-called caliphate on March 23, 2019, ISIS sleeper cell attacks continue in areas that were liberated from the militants.

Many of these attacks occur in the eastern oil-rich province of Deir al-Zor. 

The US-led coalition continues to support anti-ISIS operations by the SDF as part of joint efforts to deny ISIS militants and leaders the ability to operate in Syria.