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US Forces in cooperation with Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) conducted a helicopter raid in eastern Syria on Wednesday, capturing an Islamic State (ISIS) provincial media and security operative, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Thursday.
CENTCOM said the detained individual “was involved in the planning and facilitation of ISIS operations in and outside of the region as well as global recruiting efforts.”
“The capture of this ISIS operative will disrupt the terrorist organisation’s ability to further plot and carry out global attacks threatening U.S. citizens, our partners and innocent civilians,” CENTCOM Spokesman Col. Joe Buccino said, adding that the fundamentalist group continued to represent a threat in the region.
ISIS has carried out at least 20 attacks against the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) territories and the areas held by the Syrian government since the beginning of the year. These attacks, 15 of which were in AANES-held areas, have resulted in 16 deaths and 20 injuries, according to North Press Agency.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for a total of 188 attacks against AANES in 2022. With increased jihadist activity in the region, the SDF launched 21 security campaigns against the group, targeting sleeper cells in Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor and Qamishli.
A total of 291 ISIS-affiliated individuals were arrested in SDF operations in the last year, ranging from high-ranking operatives to suspected militants, North Press Agency reported.
Turkey’s cross-border military offensives in the region targeting Kurdish groups have resulted in a suitable environment for an ISIS re-emergence in northern Syria, the SDF said in December.
