“Under the leadership of YPJ and with the assistance of the SDF [Syrian Democratic Forces] and YPG [People’s Protection Units], a special operation was carried out against ISIS cells. In the operation, 10 terrorist ISIS members were arrested,” the YPJ said in a statement.
The operation was conducted in the town of al-Busyarah in Deir ez-Zor - a hotbed of ISIS activity, according to the SDF.
“Our forces remain committed, in coordination with the International Coalition, to the complete elimination of the ISIS terrorist organization and to ensure lasting security and stability in Syria,” the SDF said.
The SDF has carried out numerous operations this year to counter what they say is a resurgence in ISIS activity targeting both their forces and civilians. On Monday, the SDF said it thwarted a “treacherous and indiscriminate” attack by ISIS militants in Deir ez-Zor, a week after another ISIS attack killed one SDF member and injured another.
ISIS and its so-called “caliphate” was territorially defeated in 2019, but the group has recently sought to regain ground, taking advantage of instability in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
The SDF, backed by the United States, is the de facto army of northeast Syria (Rojava), and has fought to prevent the militants from reestablishing a foothold in the shifting security landscape.
