ISIS emir arrested in Deir ez-Zor
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — An Islamic State (ISIS) emir was arrested in a joint security operation conducted by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and international coalition forces in western Deir ez-Zor, local media and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said on Saturday.
The SDF and coalition forces clashed with the emir, an Iraqi, for nearly 40 minutes after storming his house. He was later arrested and his house blown up, SOHR said.
The joint operation was supported by four helicopters and a fighter jet, it added. The operation was also reported by the North Press Agency (NPA), an outlet close to the SDF.
ISIS seized control of large swathes of Iraq and Syria in 2014. The last of its so-called caliphate was defeated in Syria in 2019, but the group remains a threat on both sides of the border, particularly in Deir ez-Zor, which is controlled by both the SDF and regime forces.
The SDF frequently conducts security operations against ISIS militants. The force launched 34 operations against the group in the first half of this year, in which 245 suspects were arrested and three others were killed.
Many of the operations have been focused in the border areas where in late June they arrested 22 ISIS suspects, and 24 across 53 locations in late May.
The SDF and coalition forces clashed with the emir, an Iraqi, for nearly 40 minutes after storming his house. He was later arrested and his house blown up, SOHR said.
The joint operation was supported by four helicopters and a fighter jet, it added. The operation was also reported by the North Press Agency (NPA), an outlet close to the SDF.
ISIS seized control of large swathes of Iraq and Syria in 2014. The last of its so-called caliphate was defeated in Syria in 2019, but the group remains a threat on both sides of the border, particularly in Deir ez-Zor, which is controlled by both the SDF and regime forces.
The SDF frequently conducts security operations against ISIS militants. The force launched 34 operations against the group in the first half of this year, in which 245 suspects were arrested and three others were killed.
Many of the operations have been focused in the border areas where in late June they arrested 22 ISIS suspects, and 24 across 53 locations in late May.