Syrian forces kill two Islamic State militants near Damascus

Syria’s Internal Security Forces said they killed two suspected Islamic State militants during a nighttime operation in the Damascus countryside, thwarting what authorities described as a planned attack on a government facility.

According to a statement carried by state news agency SANA, the incident took place in the Sayyeda Zeinab area, where a patrol was conducting security duties along roads leading to military barracks and state institutions.

Security personnel identified two masked individuals behaving suspiciously on the roadside and attempted to stop them for an identity check. The suspects opened fire, prompting an exchange in which they were “neutralised,” the statement said.

Authorities said a subsequent search of the scene indicated the suspects were attempting to plant an improvised explosive device intended for use in an attack against a government target. Explosives and weapons were recovered at the site, and officials confirmed the individuals’ affiliation with Islamic State.

By Tamilla Hasanova