SDF arrests 17 ISIS members in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – On Tuesday, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) arrested 17 members of ISIS sleeper cells, with Global Coalition air support, in the countryside of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria.
The SDF said on its official website that it confiscated weapons and ammunitions that 17 members of ISIS cells had in al-Basira town, 30 kilometers east of Deir ez-Zor.
The clashes lasted for an hour after raids carried out by the Global Coalition’s helicopters to combat ISIS, a military source from al-Basira told North Press.
A civilian was wounded in Hiwayja Fhiman in the countryside of al-Basira on the banks of the Euphrates, when he was standing in front of his house and ISIS gunmen opened fire indiscriminately after finding out where three of their members are hiding, the source added.
The wounded was transferred to al-Fayha’ Hospital in the town for treatment.
The source added that the SDF deployed scattered checkpoints in al-Basira and Abriha and imposed a curfew on the towns until a further notice.
On Monday, ISIS claimed the assassination of a civilian on charges of dealing with the SDF near the oil tankers in the town of Thiban in the eastern countryside of Deir Ez-Zor.
For months, eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor has been witnessing intensive kidnappings and assassinations of the SDF, employees of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), notables, Sheikhs and civilians.
On June16, the SDF arrested three ISIS members in the town of al-Shuhail in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor.