Syrian Interior Ministry Announces Security Campaign Against ISIS Cells in Several Provinces

A source in the Syrian Ministry of Interior said on Saturday that security forces have launched a large-scale campaign targeting ISIS cells in several provinces, as part of what was described as efforts to combat terrorism and maintain internal stability.

In a statement to Al Arabiya/Al Hadath, the source explained that the security operation, which is expected to last several days, aims to “eliminate the remaining pockets of the organization.” He noted that the campaign is being carried out in coordination between security units and the General Intelligence Directorate, based on intelligence gathered over recent weeks.

In an official statement, the Interior Ministry said the operation has led to the dismantling of several cells and the arrest of individuals suspected of belonging to the group, in addition to the seizure of materials and evidence currently being analyzed by relevant authorities.

The statement added that the operation “comes as part of ongoing national efforts to combat terrorism and reflects the level of coordination between security agencies in confronting threats to citizens’ safety.”

This development comes as a U.S. official stated that Washington “seeks to sustain counter-ISIS efforts by supporting Syrian security forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)” in areas where the group remains sporadically active.

ISIS, which seized large swaths of territory in Syria and Iraq in 2014, has lost most of its military capabilities since 2017, though some of its cells remain active in remote desert areas inside Syria and Iraq.