Combing operations in Hasakah’s countryside continue; as ISIS financier is arrested by Syrian Democratic Forces

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA – The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of North and East Syria have started extensive combing operations in Hasakah and its countryside. These campaigns to search for Islamic State (ISIS) members and potential sleeper cells were launched after the attack on Al-Sina’a prison, which houses around 5,000 ISIS members. Although the detention facility in the Ghweran neighborhood of Hasakah has been fully secured, it is still unclear how many ISIS members had escaped during the assault.

Commander of the SDF Military Council in the Gozarto (Jazira) Region Hussein Salmo stated that: “The combing operations take place to maintain security and stability in the region. The combing operations include Hasakah and its countryside up to Tel Tamr town in the north.”

Salmo revealed that so far, many ISIS operatives have been arrested, with a large quantity of weapons and explosive materials having been confiscated. The SDF Commander was satisfied with the results of the campaign, but did not disclose a timetable as to when the operation would be completed.

In related news, the SDF Media Center published a statement in which they declared that SDF’s Anti Terror Units (YAT) had arrested an ISIS member responsible for distributing financial resources to ISIS cells in North and East Syria. The individual was also responsible for delivering money to ISIS families in the Al-Hol Refugee Camp.

The ISIS financer, later identified as Muhammad Ahmad Karzab, admitted receiving sums of money from parties in Turkey and Edleb (Idlib) in northwest Syria and then distributing them to members of the so-called ‘Islamic State’ terror group.

Karzab, who hails from the city of Al-Bab, took advantage of the stable conditions in Raqqa and worked from there. He admitted forming an ISIS cell which would blackmail merchants in Raqqa and force them to pay sums of money (zakat). Karzab would then deliver the collected funds to ISIS terrorist cells.

According to Karzab’s confessions, he was initially tasked with just the receiving of the money sent from Turkey and Edleb. However, his responsibilities soon grew, as he was tasked with distributing it to the cell members in various regions of north Syria, including Al-Hol Camp.

It is unclear if the arrest of Karzab and the discovery of his networks has led to more arrests.