IS Commander Arrested in Idlib Operation
A suspected leader of the Islamic State (IS) was apprehended during a coalition operation in Idlib province, northwestern Syria, last night, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The raid occurred in a region populated by displaced persons, signaling the coalition’s continued efforts against the terrorist group, reports 24brussels.
Commandos from the U.S.-led coalition deployed helicopters to the area, launching the operation amidst a significant presence of special forces. The target was identified as Abu Hafs al Qurashi, an Iraqi commander allegedly involved in recruiting foreign fighters and facilitating their movement across Syria.
The operation reportedly lasted approximately one and a half hours, resulting in at least one unidentified individual’s death and the capture of al Qurashi. The actions taken by coalition forces underscore ongoing military efforts to dismantle IS leadership in the region.
Details surrounding the arrest of non-Syrian women who were reportedly accompanying al Qurashi remain unclear; it is uncertain whether they were taken into custody by Syrian General Security forces or international coalition troops. The Washington-led coalition has yet to make an official statement regarding the raid, similarly echoed by allies in the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Historically, the coalition has targeted major IS figures; among those killed in previous operations were Abu Bakr al Baghdadi and Abu Ibrahim al Hashimi al Qurashi, both eliminated in 2019 and 2022, respectively. Notably, the current jihadist figure also known as Abu Hafs al Qurashi shares a name used commonly within IS ranks to establish legitimacy through ties to the Quraysh tribe, with which the Prophet Muhammad is associated.
