SDF captures ISIS operative in Hasaka: Coalition

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) captured an Islamic State (ISIS) logistics operative in Hasaka province on Thursday, the global coalition against ISIS announced on Friday.

“In the late evening of April 27, 2023, Syrian Democratic Forces conducted a unilateral raid to capture an ISIS operative and degrade ISIS transportation and smuggling operations in the Dashisha desert within al-Hasakah province, Syria,” the coalition said in a statement about the operation carried out by its Kurdish-led ally.  

“SDF planned the successful capture of Salih Dahmash, a known ISIS logistics operative,” it added. 

Hasaka is located in northeast Syria (Rojava). 

"The capture of Dahmash will disrupt and degrade ISIS' ability to smuggle lethal aid and personnel between northeast Syria and Iraq,” said US Air Force Brig. Gen. Claude Tudor, Combined Special Operations Joint Task Force - Levant Commander.

The SDF has recently carried out several raids against ISIS in Syria, arresting many suspects as the partnership between the Kurdish-led force and the coalition remains strong. 

On Monday, they arrested four ISIS members in Raqqa. The same day, the coalition said that ISIS activities in Syria have seen a 55 percent decrease since the beginning of the year and praised the SDF for their effectiveness.

ISIS rose to power seizing swathes of Syria in 2014 but it was declared territorially defeated in the country five years later. Though the group no longer controls any territory, it continues to pose security risks through kidnappings, hit-and-run attacks, and bombings in both Syria and Iraq.