Kurdish-led SDF Captures Senior ISIS Leader in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor with US Support
By Kardo Roj
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Monday the successful capture of a senior Islamic State (ISIS) leader in a security operation carried out with support from the US-led Global Coalition in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor.
According to an official SDF statement, the operation, conducted in the town of al-Busaira, targeted Khalid Marbad Ubaid, also known as Abu Omar, who played a key role in supplying ISIS sleeper cells with weapons and ammunition. These cells have been responsible for a series of attacks targeting SDF forces, security personnel, and civilians in the region.
The operation was led by the Tactical Operations Unit (TOL) of the SDF, a specialized counterterrorism division, following extensive intelligence gathering. The statement noted that security forces tracked Abu Omar’s movements before successfully locating his hideout and apprehending him without casualties.
“This operation is part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and stability of northeast Syria by eliminating ISIS threats before they escalate,” the SDF statement read.
The US-led Global Coalition continues to provide intelligence and operational support to the SDF, reinforcing joint efforts to counter ISIS insurgency in areas where the group remains active.
Despite the territorial defeat of ISIS in 2019, remnants of the group maintain a presence in Syria’s eastern desert and rural areas, particularly in Deir ez-Zor, where they exploit local tensions and power vacuums. The group has carried out frequent ambushes, assassinations, and bombings targeting security forces, tribal leaders, and civilians.
The latest SDF operation underscores the ongoing security challenges in the region, as ISIS continues its attempts to destabilize areas administered by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). Local security sources report that several other ISIS operatives have been captured or eliminated in similar raids over the past month.
The SDF, with continued support from the Global Coalition, has prioritized counterterrorism operations in Deir ez-Zor and other areas where ISIS remnants are attempting to regroup. These efforts have significantly reduced the group’s operational capabilities, but officials warn that sleeper cells still pose a security risk.
As the SDF intensifies its crackdown on ISIS networks, stability in northeast Syria remains a key focus, particularly in contrast to other regions where security conditions remain volatile due to ongoing conflicts.