Raqqa, northeastern Syria – The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Sunday that they have dismantled an ISIS cell operating in the city of Raqqa, northern Syria; a former stronghold of the extremist group.
In a statement published on its official website, the SDF said the counter-terror operation was carried out after “extensive intelligence work and continuous surveillance” of the cell’s movements. According to the statement, the group was planning coordinated attacks against security personnel and civilians in areas controlled by the SDF in northern and eastern Syria.
Special operations units managed to surround the hideout and arrest four suspected cell members, identified as Hamza Omar al-Khalaf, Ahmed Ali al-Ahmad, Bassam Ali al-Ahmad, and Hussein Ali al-Ahmad.
During initial interrogations, the suspects reportedly confessed to carrying out several attacks against the local security forces in Raqqa city and surrounding areas, which resulted in multiple casualties. They also admitted to fleeing afterward to other regions such as Tel Abyad and Ras al-Ain, areas near the Turkish border currently under the control of Turkish-backed Syrian factions.
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The SDF said the cell was preparing to use about 500 kilograms of TNT to carry out large-scale bombings against military, government, and civilian targets. The detainees also revealed they had received logistical and weapons support from networks in northern Syria.
The Kurdish-led SDF, backed by the US-led Coalition, remains the main partner on the ground in the fight against ISIS remnants in Syria. While the extremist group no longer holds territory, sleeper cells continue to stage attacks, assassinations, and bombings across parts of the country.
The SDF emphasized that its forces would “continue security and military operations to dismantle ISIS sleeper cells and prevent any attempts to destabilize the region.”
Earlier in June, the SDF carried out a similar operation in Deir ez-Zor province, eastern Syria, arresting ISIS suspects with support from Coalition air assets.
