SDF launch security campaign against ISIS sleeper cells in Deir ez-Zor
Deir ez-Zor countryside – North-Press Agency
Syrian Democratic Forces launched today a large security campaign in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor governorate, during which they’ve detained suspects accused of dealing with the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS.
According to North-Press correspondent in Deir ez-Zor, special security units from the Syrian Democratic forces launched a large-scale campaign of arrests in the village of Shaqra, western Deir ez-Zor, and in the village of Swedan al-Jazira, eastern Deir ez-Zor.
The campaign was continued to reach the town of al-Tayyana, aiming to track and arrest ISIS sleeper cells.
The Global coalition backed Syrian Democratic forces had launched in mid-April a military campaign to clean the surroundings of the town of al-Shehail in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, where SDF captured dozens of armed sleeper cells in the desert area of al-Shehail, as several security operations continued afterward within the framework of that campaign.
Furthermore, the US-backed multi-ethnic Syrian Democratic Forces uncovered a series of underground caches and tunnels in which ISIS sleeper cells used to carry out suicide attacks against SDF-held areas as well as the seizure of some amounts of weapons and ammunition.
While the US Special Representative for Syria Engagement, Amb. James Jeffrey quoted the acting Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, demanding allies to provide help in the fight against the remnants of ISIS in north-eastern Syria.