SDF nabs key ISIS figure in Hasakah NE Syria
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Wednesday the arrest of a senior member of the Islamic State (ISIS) in the city of Hasakah during a joint security operation with the US-led Global Coalition.
According to a statement released by the SDF’s People’s Protection Units (YPG) Media Center, the operation was carried out on August 3, 2025, by the SDF’s Tactical Operations Units (TOL). The mission targeted an individual described as a prominent ISIS leader who oversaw the group’s “General Research Department” in Syria.
The statement said the suspect played a central role in selecting targets for terrorist attacks across the country, coordinating planning efforts intended to destabilize security in the region.
The arrest comes amid ongoing SDF-led operations aimed at dismantling ISIS sleeper cells and preventing the resurgence of the extremist group in northeast Syria. Despite the territorial defeat of ISIS in 2019, security officials say the group continues to operate in small, clandestine units, attempting to carry out bombings, assassinations, and recruitment efforts.
Hasakah, under the governance of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), remains a focal point of anti-terrorism activities due to its strategic location and the presence of facilities holding thousands of ISIS detainees. The SDF, supported by the Coalition, regularly launches targeted operations in the governorate to counter threats posed by ISIS remnants.