Syria: SDF Announces Arrest of Dangerous ISIS Leader in Raqqa

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Monday evening the capture of a prominent ISIS member during a special security operation in the city of Raqqa, describing him as one of the organization’s most dangerous elements in the region.
In its statement, the SDF said the operation was carried out last Saturday after “precise surveillance and monitoring lasting several months of the movements of the individual named Hassan Jafli, nicknamed Abu Abdo,” explaining that he was responsible for manufacturing and distributing TNT explosives on behalf of ISIS cells.

The SDF confirmed that its forces were able to locate the suspect’s hiding place, imposed a tight security cordon, and arrested him without any casualties.

The SDF noted that Jafli used a private warehouse to prepare explosives aimed at targeting military points and internal security centers, as well as civilian gatherings “with the purpose of spreading terror and destabilizing the region.”

During the raid, the forces confiscated 180 TNT blocks, several remote-control devices, detonators, electronic circuits, as well as mobile devices and cash.

The operation comes as part of ongoing efforts to pursue the remnants of ISIS and its sleeper cells in northern and eastern Syria.