Two ISIS militants captured in joint SDF, US-led Coalition operation

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two Islamic State (ISIS) militants were captured in a joint operation conducted by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in eastern Syria, as part of continued efforts to eliminate the group’s remaining networks.

In a Thursday statement on X, the People’s Protection Units (YPG) - the primary component and backbone of the SDF - announced that “the Military Operations Units (TOL) of the Syrian Democratic Forces, with the participation of the International Coalition, carried out a special security operation in the Hawayij Dhiban area [east] of Deir ez-Zor.” 

According to the YPG, the operation targeted an active ISIS cell involved in the transfer and distribution of weapons. "As a result of the operation, two members of the cell were captured," the statement read, asserting that the SDF remains committed to "dismantling ISIS networks."

The SDF serves as the de facto military force in Rojava, and has long been the main ground partner of the US-led coalition in the fight against ISIS.

The YPG was formed in 2011 following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, with the aim of defending Kurdish-majority regions in Syria. It rose to prominence in 2014 for its decisive role in combating ISIS, particularly during the battle for Kobani.

Although ISIS lost its last territorial stronghold in Syria in 2019, the group continues to carry out sporadic attacks targeting Kurdish-led forces and civilians.

On Wednesday, two SDF fighters were killed in an ISIS attack in Deir ez-Zor province. That same day, Kurdish-led units captured a senior ISIS operative in Hasaka city in Rojava.

Separately, Syria’s interior ministry on Thursday announced the arrest of an ISIS cell in Idlib province, in the northwest of the country. According to the ministry, the cell was involved in the assassination of five Iraqi nationals, and a weapons workshop was seized during the raid.