ISIS leader arrested in Hasaka

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — An Islamic State (ISIS) leader was arrested in Hasaka on Sunday by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), media affiliated to the SDF said, adding that members of an ISIS sleeper cell were also arrested in Deir ez-Zor.

"Anti-terrorism units in the SDF arrested an ISIS leader in the Hasaka region," a military source told the North Press Agency (NPA), adding that the leader was responsible for “gathering information and planning to target operations conducted by the SDF and security forces, as well as leading the terrorist group in the region.”

In a separate operation, Asayish arrested four members of an ISIS sleeper cell on the eastern side of Deir ez-Zor, according to the media outlet.

ISIS seized control of swathes Iraq and Syria in 2014. The group was declared territorially defeated in Iraq in 2017 and Syria in 2019. The militants, however, remain a threat on both sides of the border, carrying out bombings, hit-and-run attacks, and abductions.

The SDF and Syrian regime forces control Deir ez-Zor province, but the terror group remains active in the area.

The arrests follow a series of assassinations, targeting civilians, tribal leaders, and members of the SDF.

Unknown gunmen shot dead an SDF leader in Deir ez-Zor on Tuesday.

In its weekly propaganda newspaper al-Naba, ISIS claimed on Thursday it had conducted 12 attacks in Syria between April 29 and May 5, killing and injuring 17 people.