Syrian Interior Ministry spokesman Nour al-Din al-Baba announced Saturday that the campaign carried out by Interior Ministry units, in cooperation with the General Intelligence Directorate, is part of preventive operations aimed at neutralizing any ISIS threat before it materializes.
He noted that intelligence had intercepted information indicating the group’s intent to launch new attacks, targeting both government institutions and Syrian communities, as the country prepares to join the international coalition against ISIS.
In an interview with Syrian Al-Ikhbariya TV ,al- Baba said the security operation included 61 raids across several provinces, Aleppo, Idleb, Hama, Homs, Deir Ezzor, Raqqa, Damascus and its countryside, as well as the Syrian Desert. So far, the campaign has resulted in 71 arrests, including leaders of various ranks and ordinary members accused of crimes such as targeting civilians and Defense Ministry personnel.
Al-Baba added that the operations also neutralized one ISIS member and injured a security officer, while raids uncovered weapons depots, ammunition stockpiles, and hideouts containing logistical equipment in multiple areas.
He highlighted the strong cooperation and coordination between the General Intelligence Directorate and the Interior Ministry.
Al-Baba explained that the church bombing in Damascus’ Douilaa district last June marked the peak of ISIS activity inside Syria. However, security forces quickly contained the situation, arresting Abdel-Ilah al-Jumaili, known as “Abu Imad al-Jumaili,” who served as the so-called “Governor of the Desert” in the group, within 24 hours. They also dismantled the “suicide battalion” in Aleppo, significantly curbing ISIS operations in Syrian territory.
He said that attempts to reactivate ISIS sleeper cells had been detected, with plans to target government institutions, officials, and various Syrian communities. The aim, he said, was to undermine civil peace, spread fear among citizens, and tarnish Syria’s political reputation.
“During the early months of Syria’s liberation, remnants of the former regime posed the greatest challenge. But after dismantling most of their cells and logistical networks, the current major threat lies in ISIS’s attempts to reconstitute itself and recruit new members, particularly among the youth.” Al-Baba stated.
The Interior Ministry spokesman stressed the importance of intellectual and awareness efforts to protect younger generations from extremism, emphasizing that political and economic stability forms the first line of defense against terrorism.
MHD Ibrahim
