Five suspected ISIS members arrested by Syrian Democratic Forces south of Hasakah in North and East Syria

HASAKAH, Syria — Five suspected members of the Islamic state (ISIS) have been arrested in the village of Al-Fakka, south of Hasakah in North and East Syria, by the Anti-Terror Units (YAT) of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The raid was conducted via airdrop in coordination with the U.S.-led International Coalition.

The SDF has stepped up the frequency of its raids on suspected ISIS members in recent weeks. On 4 December, the SDF arrested a suspected ISIS member in the town of Al-Shuhail in the eastern countryside of Dayro Zcuro (Deir ez-Zor). On 3 December, they arrested three others from the same family in the eastern town of Al-Ghariba, in the northern countryside of Dayro Zcuro.

The SDF security campaigns have been continuing in many liberated areas of North and East Syria, along with Coalition forces.

Background

Since the summer, the SDF have conducted a series of sweeping operations in and around Dayro Zcuro to combat the presence of ISIS cells in the area.

To help secure the region, the SDF have conducted a series of sweeping operations targeting Islamic State and Syrian regime sleeper cells.

In June of this year, the SDF launched a large-scale counter-terror operation, Operation Deterring Terrorism, in Dayro Zcuro and the surrounding areas to combat the presence of Islamic State cells operating in the countryside.

In the following month of July, a second phase of Operation Deterring Terrorism was launched at the urging of locals still suffering from Islamic State attacks of various kinds. The second phase specifically targeted ISIS hideouts in the areas of Al-Basira, Al-Shahil, Al-Zer, Al-Zayban, and Al-Hawaij in the northern countryside of Dayro Zcuro. Dozens of suspected ISIS members were arrested during the operations.

In mid-October, SDF special units, in cooperation with the International Coalition carried out two joint operations in the countryside of Dayro Zcuro, resulting in the arrests of four suspected ISIS members and the seizure of weapons and ammunition. Another suspected ISIS member was arrested in the northeastern countryside of Hasakah Province.