Six thousand fighters take part in military campaign to pursue ISIS cells – SDF leader

SDF fighter next to Global Coalition vehicles – North Press

Jindar Abdulqader

 

DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – SDF leader Adnan Afrin said that more than 6,000 fighters are taking part in the military campaign targeting ISIS sleeper cells in the area located between Hasakah countryside and the town of al-Baghouz, east of Deir ez-Zor.

 

In a statement to North Press, Adnan Afrin, a leader in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said that they started launching a military campaign with support from Global Coalition forces at dawn on Thursday to pursue ISIS sleeper cells.

 

Afrin stated that the campaign was launched in coordination with the Global Coalition, and that all SDF councils including the commandos, that will deal in particular situations, are taking part.

 

“The campaign was launched in response to the call of civilians and tribal leaders, who complained about the increasing activity of ISIS sleeper cells against them and the military forces,” he added.

 

Afrin said that during the first hours of the campaign, the commandos dealt with a number of specific targets, where they arrested a number of those suspected in dealing with ISIS sleeper cells and seized their weapons.  

 

The SDF was able to arrest four members of ISIS sleeper cells in the village of Albu Hamdah, in the town of al-Dashisha in the southeastern countryside of Hasakah, on Thursday morning, an SDF military source told North Press.

 

The same source stated that the campaign of pursuing ISIS sleeper cells will continue in the Syrian-Iraqi bordering areas between Deir ez-Zor and Hasakah countryside for a week.