ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two members of Syria's Internal Security Forces were killed and five others wounded on Thursday during an operation targeting a suspected Islamic State (ISIS) cell in Rankous, in Rif Dimashq province, the security forces said.
Rankous is located approximately 45 kilometers north of the Syrian capital, Damascus.
“During the operation, members of the cell refused to surrender and opened fire on security forces, triggering clashes that left two Internal Security Forces personnel dead and five others wounded,” read a statement from the Internal Security Forces.
“The operation ended with five members of the cell neutralized, six others arrested, and weapons and explosive belts seized,” it added.
The latest confrontation comes amid continued security operations against suspected ISIS cells in Syria, particularly in areas around Damascus.
On October 16, Syrian state-owned news agency SANA reported that Syrian authorities had arrested two suspected ISIS members accused of planning an attack on a police patrol in Damascus countryside.
The latest operation comes as ISIS remains active in parts of Syria despite a significant decline in its attacks in recent years.
A quarterly report published on August 27 by the Lead Inspector General for Operation Inherent Resolve said ISIS attacks in Syria had declined following the withdrawal of US forces in April, although the group continued targeting Syrian government forces.
The continuing attacks against Syrian security forces highlight the challenges facing Damascus as it seeks to dismantle remaining ISIS cells and consolidate security across the country.
