The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced today, Thursday, the arrest of the leader of a cell belonging to the ISIS organization, in addition to seizing weapons and ammunition, during a security operation carried out in coordination with the international coalition in the Rif Dimashq Governorate.
The ministry said in a statement, reported by the Syrian News Agency “SANA”, that its specialized units in Rif Dimashq, in cooperation with the General Intelligence Service and the International Coalition forces, carried out a “qualitative and precise” security operation targeting one of the organization’s strongholds in the town of Huteita al-Turkman in the Al-Mleiha area, after careful follow-up operations and intensive intelligence monitoring.
The statement explained that the operation resulted in the arrest of the leader of a cell belonging to the organization, and the seizure of quantities of weapons and ammunition, along with documents and papers indicating his direct involvement in armed activities aimed at destabilizing security and stability in the region, without revealing his name.
The Ministry of Interior confirmed that this operation comes within the framework of ongoing efforts to pursue the organization’s cells and dry up its sources.
It indicated that the detainee was transferred to the Counter-Terrorism Department to complete the necessary investigations, in preparation for his referral to the “competent judiciary in principle to take legal measures against him.”
This announcement comes one day after the ministry announced the arrest of the organization’s leader in Damascus, nicknamed “Wali of Damascus,” named “Taha al-Zoubi,” known as “Abu Omar Tibieh,” in addition to the arrest of a number of his assistants, and the seizure of an explosive belt and a war weapon they were carrying.
The “SANA” agency quoted the Internal Security Commander in the Rif Dimashq Governorate, Brigadier General “Ahmed Al-Dalati,” as saying that the arrest of the leader in the organization was carried out during a precise security operation that targeted, on Wednesday, one of the organization’s dens in the city of Al-Muadamiyah in the governorate’s countryside.
Commenting on these operations, Minister of Interior “Anas Khattab” wrote via the “X” platform that eliminating the presence of two of the “organization’s governors” in Syria, namely the governor of Damascus and the governor of Hauran, in less than 24 hours, represents a new stage in the ongoing fight against this organization.
“Khattab” stressed that the arrest of the leaders was carried out through a precise tactic and high coordination between the Ministry of Interior and the General Intelligence Service, and in cooperation with international partners.
According to a statement issued by the US Embassy in Damascus, Syria joined the international coalition against ISIS, which was founded under the leadership of the United States in 2014, on November 12.
