SOUTHWEST ASIA – Syrian anti-ISIS commandos demonstrated their mettle to close 2019 with two successful raids on sleeper cells. It was a history-making year where they defeated ISIS’ physical territory during the Battle of Baghouz and liberated millions of people.
The mixed force of Kurdish and Arab fighters closed the year by preventing Daesh suicide vehicle attacks on Dec. 31; then a large-scale Syrian commando-led operation, supported by Coalition forces, disrupted an imminent Daesh attack against a jointly occupied base in Deir ez Zor Province on New Year’s Day.
A statement from Syria-partnered forces described, “The [New Year’s Eve] cell was in preparations for carrying out suicide attacks against the civilian population with car-bombs in Qamishli, Hasakah, and Derik.”
The announcement added that two terrorists were captured during the operation: Fourat Sultan Hussein, an Iraqi suspect, who is also known as “Abu Monzer,” in Shaddadi, Syria; and Ahmed Muhammed al-Abid, arrested for possessing a booby-trapped vehicle.
The Explosive Ordnance Team of the Internal Security Forces disposed of the car-bomb safely.
In Hasakah Province, on Jan. 1, local Syrian commandos and Coalition Special Operations Forces advisors captured 16 terrorists in possession of weapons and other terrorist related material.
All detainees are held by the Syrian-partnered forces. An investigation into the ISIS remnant cell’s plans to attack Coalition and partner bases is ongoing.
“Our mission in Syria remains focused on the enduring defeat of Daesh – taking the fight to them wherever they hide, network, or attempt to conduct attacks, we will strike.” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Eric T. Hill, SOJTF-OIR commander. “They are the best force to fight Daesh. We work every day with our partners to conduct operations to kill or capture Daesh.”
"After another full year of great struggle, sacrifice, and success in the fight against ISIS, we commend our Syrian-partnered force on two more successful missions,” said U.S. Army Col. Myles B. Caggins III, Coalition military spokesman. “The strength of our partnership is based on close cooperation, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to crushing ISIS remnants and protecting all people of northeastern Syria.”
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