Click to see full-size image. Source: the Hawar News Agency.
On February 2, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) concluded a counter-terrorism operation in the northern Syrian governorate of Raqqa.
The operation was launched exactly a week earlier, on January 25, with support from the United States-led coalition in response to the December 26 ISIS Raqqa attack. At least six personnel of the Kurdish-led group were killed in the attack which targeted a security center in Raqqa city.
In a statement, the SDF said that 127 members of ISIS, including the terrorist group Raqqa governor, as well as a number of suspects were arrested in the course of the operation, which was coordinated via a special operations room dubbed “the Revenge Campaign for the Martyrs of Raqqa”.
“During surprise raids and combing operations, our units arrested 127 wanted and suspected members of terrorist cells, including the governor of Raqqa wilayat, so-called Atallah al-Mithan … and the terrorist cell that planned and provided logistical support for the terrorist attack on the security center, whereby four people involved in smuggling wounded attackers and providing them with hideouts as well as in preparing explosives for the attack were arrested,” the statement reads.
In addition, SDF units seized loads of weapons, ammunition and propaganda materials. Several old tunnels were also uncovered.
Early on in January, the group conducted a similar operation against ISIS cells in the northeastern governorate of al-Hasakah with direct support from the U.S.-led coalition. More than 100 suspected terrorists were arrested during the operation. However, the security situation in the governorate didn’t improve.
The recent operations in al-Hasakah and Raqqa were not only meant to counter ISIS, but also to promote the SDF as a key counter-terrorism force and justify the U.S. military presence in northern and eastern Syria.