SDF, CTG arrest senior ISIS leader in Syria’s Raqqa
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Thursday, Counter-Terrorism Units (YAT) of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Sulaymaniyah-based Counter-Terrorism Group (CTG) of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) supported by the US-led Global Coalition managed to arrest a senior leader of the Islamic State (ISIS) in the city of Raqqa in northern Syria, the SDF Media Center announced on Friday.
The SDF Media Center said in a statement that the YAT and the CTG supported by air surveillance of the Coalition launched on Thursday a security operation in Raqqa.
The operation led to the arrest of a senior ISIS leader called Abdulghafour Taber al-Diyab, aka Abu Amir, who worked as the head (emir) of the so-called Tribes Divan and the manager of ISIS bank, the SDF added.
“Abu Amir was responsible for financing the ISIS terrorist cells and their terrorist acts in the region, supplying them with weapons,” the SDF statement read.
“Various weapons and military equipment were confiscated during the operation, including AK-47 rifle /1/, AK-47 magazines /5/, Smartphones /8/, Wi-Fi Router /3/, Memory cards /6/.”
“Our dedicated forces, in close partnership with the International Coalition, will persistently pursue ISIS terrorists across different regions of NE Syria to maintain security and stability,” the statement concluded.
On Sept. 2, the YAT, the CTG and the Coalition managed to arrest an ISIS militant in the town of Dashisha in the south of Hasakah.
These operations came in tandem with another operation launched by the SDF in the eastern side of the Euphrates River in Deir ez-Zor.
On Aug. 27, the SDF launched a military operation called “Security Reinforcement” with the support of the US-led Global Coalition on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River, specifically in Deir ez-Zor, “to eradicate ISIS sleeper cells, pursue criminals responsible for perpetrating injustices against the local population, and to track down smugglers who exploit the populace’s livelihoods.”
On Aug. 30, the SDF announced the dismissal of commander of Deir ez-Zor Military Council, Ahmad al-Khabil, known as Abu Khawla, from duty, for his involvement “in multiple crimes and violations, including communication and coordination with external entities hostile to the revolution, committing criminal offenses and engaging in drug trafficking, mismanaging of the security situation, his negative role in increasing the activities of ISIS cells,” according to the SDF.
The operation led to the eruption of clashes between the SDF and gunmen affiliated with the dismissed leaders and with Nawaf al-Bashir, leader of al-Baggara tribe and a pro-Iranian figure whose groups are active in the western bank of the Euphrates which is under the control of the Syrian government forces and Iranian-backed militias.