SDF conducts sweep operations amid rising ISIS activity in Deir ez-Zor
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Units of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) conduct sweeping security operations along the banks of the Euphrates River in Deir ez-Zor countryside, eastern Syria, an SDF official said on Saturday.
The official, who wished to remain unnamed, told North Press that the operations are focused on the eastern and northern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, aiming to locate and dismantle sleeper cells of the Islamic State (ISIS) in the region.
Last week, ISIS cells carried out a series of attacks targeting checkpoints belonging to the SDF, the Internal Security Forces of North and East Syria (Asayish), and the Self-Defense Forces across the Deir ez-Zor countryside, according to the SDF Media Center.
Field sources also said that the SDF deployed military reinforcements to the targeted areas over the past two days to bolster the ongoing operations.
On May 3, the SDF announced the capture of a senior ISIS leader, Hamoud Abdullah al-Khatib, also known as Abu Zakaria, in eastern Deir ez-Zor. The arrest was carried out with support from the U.S.-led Global Coalition.
According to an official SDF statement, al-Khatib served as the head of an ISIS cell focused on extorting money from civilians under the guise of collecting zakat, often using threats and force.