SDF arrests dozens of ISIS militants in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – TheSyrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced the detention of dozens of Islamic State (ISIS) militants and the confiscation of massive amounts of ammunition in Deir ez-Zor, east Syria, during the first day of a new military operation against ISIS on Friday.
A large-scale operation started on Thursday with the participation of the People’s Protection Units (YPG), Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), and Internal Security Forces (Asayish) “because of the increase in the operations and attacks by ISIS,” the SDF press office said in a statement.
Early in February, the SDF and the Global Coalition conducted two joint operations against ISIS in Deir ez-Zor countryside, where they arrested two ISIS militants.
On Tuesday, in a joint operation with the Global Coalition, SDF arrested three ISIS militants whom the SDF said was be responsible for supplying and transferring weapons and funds to ISIS sleeper cells, in the town of Sawar in Deir ez-Zor.
On Wednesday, SDF arrested an ISIS militant who was responsible for transferring funds to other ISIS militants.
The new operation continues for the second day across the entire Deir Ez-Zor desert and along the Syrian-Iraqi border, according to the SDF statement.
On Thursday, SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that his meetings with officials of the Global Coalition “revealed a tendency to expand the operations against terrorism.”
He added, “The Turkish occupation of Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) and Tel Abyad contributed to ISIS’ revival.”