SDF arrests prominent ISIS member in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), with the support of the Global Coalition, arrested two members of the Islamic State (ISIS), one of whom is an ISIS prominent leader, during a security operation Thursday. A third member was killed in the same operation in the countryside of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria.
A local military source in the town of al-Zer, 35 km east of Deir ez-Zor city, said that one of the detainees is Hadi al-Qazbir, nicknamed Abu Sumaya al-Iraqi, and he was the governor of the area that the ISIS called Wilayat al-Khair, which extends from Baghouz, east of Deir ez-Zor, to Shaddadi in the southwestern countryside of Hasakah.
He added that the SDF were able to arrest al-Qazbir with another member who was hiding with him in a house near Abu Sa’ad Mosque in the town of al-Zer.
About three months ago, helicopters of the Global Coalition forces dropped pamphlets in the area that included a reward of $20,000 for anyone who provided accurate information on the presence of al-Qazbir.
SDF, with the support of reconnaissance aircraft and helicopters of the Global Coalition, imposed a security cordon on the town of al-Zer, as alarms were sounded from mosque loudspeakers in the town warning residents to stay in their homes until the security operation was completed.
An SDF source in the area said that they had found important information about the activity of ISIS in the possession of al-Qazbir, in addition to seizing Kalashnikov weapons, an explosive belt, and wireless communication devices.
In the same town, an SDF unit raided the home of Riyad al-Khazam, an ISIS member, and he was killed due to his resistance, according to the same source.
Two days ago, the Syrian Democratic Forces arrested ten wanted people belonging to ISIS in a security operation in the town of al-Hussan, west of Deir ez-Zor.