The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by the Kurdish militia People’s Protection Units (YPG), have ended their arrest operation against members of the Islamic State jihadist organization in northern Syria with the arrest of a total of 102 members or suspected members of the group and nearly half a hundred others for crimes of sporadic collaboration or common extortion.
The SDF launched Operation Lightning on December 29 in the towns of Al Hol and Tal Hamis, known scenes of operations of Islamic State cells, scattered after their territorial defeat in 2017. The operation was given the green light following an increase in terrorist attacks in the region and in retaliation for a jihadist attack on the SDF in Raqqa, which resulted in the death of six fighters from the Kurdish force.
According to the final balance sheet published by Firat agency, the SDF has arrested 102 members or suspected members of the organization, including three involved in the attack on Al Sina prison in 2022, in the city of Hasaka, where dozens of jihadist prisoners and 140 SDF fighters were killed.
The SDF has also announced 27 other detainees considered as «logistical providers» or «propaganda disseminators», and 25 others arrested for «looting, kidnapping and economic extortion of residents of local communities».
Having made this summary, the SDF announced «the end of Operation Lightning» but assured that its forces «will continue to pursue the terrorist cells of the Islamic State through security operations when necessary».
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
