SDF arrests 32 ISIS agents during Al-Jazeera Thunderbolt in NE Syria
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Saturday the arrest of 32 militants of Islamic State Organization (ISIS) during the third day of Operation “Al-Jazeera Thunderbolt” in areas in northeast Syria.
The SDF Media Center said in a statement the operation was expanded to pursue ISIS sleeper cells in Tel Brak in the countryside of Hasakah, after information about “suspicious movements by terrorist cells,” trying to flee the region.
The statement added that three of the arrested militants, who launched a surveillance mission for the ISIS cells, were wanted.
The SDF forces arrested three militants who tried to flee after locals expelled them, and also arrested six others, “who were involved in harboring ISIS cells and supplying them logistically,” the statement read.
Moreover, the SDF also seized “unauthorized military and semi-military uniforms used for camouflage” during security inspection.
Based on preliminary investigation with ISIS sleeper cells, the SDF revealed that ISIS militants tried to exploit Tel Hamis and Tel Brak “to maintain lines of external support from areas outside the Autonomous Administration of NE Syria.”
On Friday, the SDF announced the arrest of 52 ISIS agents in the second day of the operation.
On Dec. 29, SDF announced on Thursday launching Operation “Al-Jazeera Thunderbolt” in the countryside of both Hasakah and Qamishli, northeast Syria, to pursue sleeper cells of ISIS.