Security personnel stand among the ancient ruins in the historic city of Palmyra, as the historic Syrian city seeks to revive tourism after years of war and destruction, in Palmyra, Syria, Sep. 4, 2026. (Credits Karam al-Masri/Reuters)
Syrian security forces announced Saturday the arrest of one of the main leaders of a cell involved in the killing of three security personnel during an anti-jihadist operation in the country’s south.
’’The internal security forces of Daraa province have arrested Walid al-Fallah, one of the main leaders of the cell involved’’ in the deaths Thursday of three of their agents in the city of al-Sanamein, the official news agency SANA reported. The agents were killed as they attempted to arrest a member of the Islamic State group, a government source told AFP.
Five people were subsequently arrested, and the operation ‘‘allowed for the dismantling of criminal cells as well as others linked to IS, who were coordinating their actions,’’ Syrian Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said.
Defeated in Syria, IS maintains sleeper cells and continues to sporadically claim attacks against government forces, notably in the vast Syrian desert and in the north and northeast of the country.
The group was also previously present in Daraa province, where its leader, Abu Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, was killed in October 2022 during clashes with local fighters.
