SDF announces arrests of 2 Americans, 2 Pakistanis, Irishman in Deir ez-Zor
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) captured five foreign ISIS fighters this week in eastern Syria, the group announced on Sunday.
"Recently, in order to prevent the advance of our forces, terrorists have attempted to carry out attacks several times. In this context, a group of terrorists who had been preparing to attack the civilians who were trying to get out of the war zone in masses was detected," read a statement from the SDF press statement.The Americans were Warren Christopher Clark (aka Abu Mohammad al-Ameriki, age 34) originally from Houston and Zaid Abed al-Hamid (Abu Zaid al-Ameriki, age 35).
These terrorists were captured by our forces this week in a #Hajeen
— Mustafa Bali (@mustefa2bali) January 6, 2019
Two Americans, two Pakistanis and one Irishman pic.twitter.com/eRIrpCcwXj
Alexandr Ruzmatovich Bekmirzaev (45) was originally Dublin, İreland.
The Pakistanis included Fadel al-Rahman Cad (Abu Enam al-Muhajir, age 48), originally from Lahor, Pakistan and Abed al-Azem Rajhoud (Abu Omea al-Pakistani, age 19), originally from Sialkot.
SDF claimed ISIS is suffering "heavy losses" because of the SDF advances.
The town is one of ISIS's final holdouts east of the Euphrates. It is located in eastern Deir ez-Zor governorate near the Iraqi border.
Rudaw was not able to immediately confirm the details provided by SDF.
US President Donald Trump announced last month that US forces would begin withdrawing from Syria because ISIS had been defeated.
The SDF are known to have thousands of ISIS suspects in its custody, including many foreigners.
Update: 2:24 p.m.