SDF arrests 'dangerous ISIS operative' in northern Syria

Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Monday announced the arrest of a suspected "dangerous" Islamic State (ISIS) operative in northern Syria’s city of Raqqa. The individual was allegedly involved in the production of Improvised Exclusive Devices (IEDs) using TNT explosives. 

"As part of ongoing counter-terrorism efforts against ISIS sleeper cells, our SDF’s Military Operations Teams (TOL) executed a tightly planned security operation last Saturday in Raqqa, resulting in the capture of a dangerous ISIS operative," read a late Monday statement by the SDF.

The US-backed forces said the operation came after months of "thorough surveillance and tracking" of the suspect identified as Hassan Jafli (Abu Abdo). The SDF said Jalfi was "directly involved in the production of TNT explosives, which he distributed to ISIS cells for planned attacks on military checkpoints, [Kurdish] Internal Security Forces [Asayish] centers, vehicles, and civilian gatherings.

“He operated from his own warehouse, using it as a base for this criminal scheme designed to spread fear and destabilize the region,” the statement added.

The SDF further confiscated 180 TNT blocks and other tools used to detonate them. 

The Kurdish-led forces have carried out numerous operations this year to prevent what they say is a resurgence in ISIS activity targeting both their forces and civilians. 

ISIS was declared territorially defeated in Syria in 2019, but the group has recently sought to regain ground, taking advantage of instability in Syria following the fall of longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad regime in December.