The spokesperson for the Syrian Ministry of Interior revealed details of a security campaign launched by the ministry targeting ISIS, which began yesterday, Saturday, in several Syrian provinces. He affirmed that the campaign "came within the context of the ministry's preventative operations in cooperation with the General Intelligence Directorate."
Noureddin al-Baba, in an interview late Saturday-early Sunday on Syrian Al-Ekhbariah channel, indicated that the goal of the campaign was "to neutralize any threat from ISIS before it could materialize," noting "the organization's plans to carry out operations against the Syrian government and various components of the country, especially with Syria's imminent joining of the international coalition against the organization."
Al-Baba explained that the campaign "included 61 raids in various Syrian provinces, including Aleppo, Idlib, Homs, Deir ez-Zor, the Syrian desert, as well as Raqqa and Damascus and its countryside. Among the 61 raids, approximately 71 arrests were made, and raids were also conducted on ammunition and weapons depots and a number of hideouts containing explosives and logistical supplies used by the organization in its security operations," confirming "the killing of one member of the organization and the injury of a security officer during the operation."
The Ministry of Interior spokesperson confirmed that the arrests "included high-ranking, dangerous, and mid-level leaders within the organization," noting that "some of the crimes committed by these cells that were targeted included the assassination and burial of a Syrian citizen in Afrin, as well as targeting a currency exchange worker, kidnapping and killing him and stealing his money, in addition to targeting members of the Ministry of Defense in a number of Syrian provinces."
Regarding the mechanisms of the operation, the Pope explained that the Ministry of Interior carries out these operations, while the General Intelligence Directorate is responsible for the remaining efforts. He clarified that the Ministry of Interior "provides the executive aspect to cover these security operations, either through internal security commands at the governorate level or various departments within the ministry itself, such as the Special Tasks Department, or other departments within the Syrian Ministry of Interior." He added, "There is very significant cooperation, great harmony, and integration in roles, functions, and information."
The Al-Baba stressed that the Douma operation, carried out by the organization and resulting in the bombing of the church, was a peak in ISIS operations, indicating that the state had overcome it, especially since the blow dealt to the organization less than 24 hours after the Douma operation resulted in the arrest of Abdul Ilah al-Jumaili, also known as Abu Imad al-Jumaili, who held the position of what was called the "Governor of the Desert" within ISIS, followed by action against the so-called suicide bomber battalion that was located in Aleppo.
These operations, according to the Al-Baba, came within the context of operations "aimed at neutralizing the threat of the organization."
Al-Baba continued: "Attempts were detected to reactivate the organization's cells on the eve of Syria's entry into the international coalition to combat ISIS. The intention was to target the government by bombing government interests and targeting government figures, as well as various Syrian components, in order to disrupt civil peace, reinforce a state of fear among the various Syrian components, and damage the political reputation of the new Syrian state."
The spokesman added, "We also expect that after Syria joins the international coalition, the organization will intensify its activity inside Syria. However, we anticipate that the arrangements accompanying Syria's entry into the international coalition, including the training of security forces, the exchange of information, and joint coordination in simultaneous operations, perhaps not only in Syria but also at the level of several countries in the region, will contribute further to securing Syria from the threat of ISIS."
Meanwhile, on Saturday, internal security forces in the central city of Homs, carried out a security campaign targeting cells and members of the "ISIS" organization in several areas of the governorate, which has been experiencing security tensions for several months due to the commission of murders.
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