SDF’s special forces capture second ISIS Emir in less than a week

Al-Baghouz – North-Press Agency
Jindar Abdulqader

Yesterday morning, Tuesday, the Internal Security Forces of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria captured an Islamic State (ISIS) sleeper cell consisting of 10 members, including a senior leader, in the town of al-Baghouz in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor governorate in northeastern Syria.

A source from the security apparatus revealed to North-Press that the operation took place after receiving intelligence information stressing that the ISIS official (Emir) was responsible for the assassinations and bombings in the town of al-Shuhayl in the city of al-Busayrah.

He added that the operation took place in the early morning hours of Tuesday, where explosive munitions used in the assassinations were seized, pointing out that investigations are still ongoing in order to uncover the sleeper cell's connections.

The Global Coalition-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) arrested four ISIS sleeper agents in Deir ez-Zor in two security operations with air support by the Coalition forces in the past 72 hours.

Meanwhile, on the 8th of this month, the Counter-Terrorism Forces (HAT) of the SDF arrested Muhammad Rashid Dhiyab, the official of health sector in the Islamic State group.