(Zaman Al Wasl)- Ahrar al-Sham on Wednesday has arrested 32 ISIS militants following a week of major campaign to uproot the Islamic State from northern Idlib province, local activists said.
The Islamist alliance that led by former al Qaeda group, Fateh al-Sham, and Ahrar al-Sham said ISIS sleeper cells were behind a series of suicide bombings that rocked Idlib province, leaving dozens of civilians and rebel commanders dead.
Last week, nine militants with links to the Islamic State were arrested after a deadly suicide bombing struck a teaching institute for Holy Quran where 15 people killed including children in the western countryside.
On Sunday, Tahrir al-Sham arrested Abu Sulaiman al-Russi, the ISIS security principal in the city of Idlib. Three more commanders and 7 militants were arrested in al-Dana town after raids on six pockets for the radical group.
Tahrir al-Sham arrested Abu Ibrahim al-Iraqi who runs Idlib's sleeper cells, Abu al-Qa'qaa al-Janoubi, commander of Syrian north, and Abu al-Sawdaa al-Masri, the Shariah Responsible.
Tahrir al-Sham ordered the residents to stay at home as well to cooperate with the security office to to inform about ISIS suspects.
Also in Idlib, at least 400 civilians were arrested by regime forces near Damascus when they were heading the capital, Chairman of the Syrian Commission for Detainees said Wednesday.
Most of the detainees are state employees and workers who have no links with the rebel groups, Lawyer Fahad al Mousa told Zaman al-Wasl, demanding Human Rights organisations to urge the Syrian regime to free the detainees as well to stop mass arrest.
During the last three days, the regime forces that based in Adra town, 15 (10 miles) northeast of Damascus, have been arresting all passengers coming from Idlib to the capital.
Women and children are among the detainees who come to Damascus for medical purposes.
Only 20 people have been released after paying bribes to army officials, according to al Mousa.
Idlib is one of the most important strongholds of rebels, including jihadist factions, who seek to overthrow Bashar al-Assad, whose air force, along with that of his ally Russia, has been heavily bombarding rebel there.
The peaceful demonstrations that ended up with deadly war carried out by the Syrian regime and key regional players has killed at least 470,000 people, including 150,000 children and has displaced over 12 million people.
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