Syrian security forces detain senior ISIS militant near Damascus PHOTO

Syrian security forces, with support from the U.S.-led international coalition, arrested Taha al-Zoubi, also known as Abu Omar Tabiya, a senior ISIS operative, on December 24 evening in the Damascus area.

General Ahmad al-Dalati, head of the Damascus provincial internal security service, said the operation was carried out by special units in coordination with Syrian General Intelligence and coalition forces, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Syrian news agency SANA.

The arrest took place in the al-Moadamia district. General al-Dalati described the operation as a "serious blow to the organisation" and a demonstration of the security services’ readiness to counter threats in and around Damascus.

The arrest came more than ten days after the December 13 attack in central Syria, which Washington attributed to ISIS and which killed two U.S. servicemen and one translator. The U.S. subsequently carried out retaliatory strikes on ISIS “strongholds,” reportedly killing at least five militants, according to an NGO.

Although ISIS was territorially defeated in 2019, its fighters continue to hide in the Syrian desert and carry out periodic attacks.

By Khagan Isayev