Iraqi ISIS leader captured in major coalition operation in Syria’s Al-Bab VIDEO

A major counterterrorism operation targeting ISIS was carried out in the Syrian city of Al-Bab, located in the eastern part of Aleppo province.

The joint mission involved international coalition forces in coordination with the Turkish Armed Forces, as well as Syria’s Ministries of Defence and Internal Affairs.

According to reports from Syrian media, a senior Iraqi leader of the so-called Islamic State was captured alive during the operation, while four other ISIS militants were killed. The raid was supported by helicopter units, underscoring the scale and strategic importance of the mission.

Following the operation, a convoy of approximately 30 vehicles was seen departing the area and heading in the direction of the airport. The nature and destination of this convoy remain undisclosed.

This coordinated offensive marks one of the largest coalition-led operations in recent months and highlights the sustained efforts to pursue high-ranking ISIS operatives in northern Syria. It comes amid increased activity by the extremist group in remote rural and desert regions, raising fresh concerns among regional security forces.

ISIS — also known as ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) — is an extremist militant organisation that originated from the remnants of al-Qaeda in Iraq. The group came to global notoriety in 2014 after proclaiming a self-declared caliphate under its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, gaining control of vast swathes of territory across Iraq and Syria.

ISIS quickly became infamous for its brutal violence, including mass executions, terrorist attacks, and systemic human rights abuses, particularly against religious and ethnic minorities.

Although the group has lost most of its territorial holdings following extensive military campaigns by international and local forces, it continues to pose a serious threat. ISIS maintains an active presence in various conflict zones and operates through a dispersed network of affiliated groups worldwide.

By Tamilla Hasanova