Damascus, Dec. 13, (SANA) Syrian Interior Ministry spokesperson Nour Eddin al-Baba, announced that the assailant who attacked Syrian security forces and U.S. forces near the city of Palmyra during a joint field tour on Saturday had no command affiliation within Internal Security and was not part of the command’s escort. He added that investigations are underway to determine whether he had direct ties to ISIS or merely adopted extremist ideology.
“Internal Security Command had issued prior warnings to partner forces in the international coalition based on preliminary information suggesting a possible breach or attack by ISIS, but these warnings were not taken into consideration.” al-Baba said in a phone interview with Syrian Al-Ikhbariyah TV.
He noted that the attack occurred at the entrance of a fortified Internal Security Command facility following the conclusion of a joint patrol.
He added: “The international coalition announced that two soldiers were killed along with a translator, while two members of Syrian Internal Security forces were injured. The assailant was neutralized, and it must be emphasized that he held no leadership role within Internal Security and was not an escort to the Internal Security Commander, contrary to inaccurate reports.”
Al-Baba explained that “more than five thousand personnel are affiliated with the Internal Security Command in the Badia region, and weekly evaluations are conducted for all members, with actions taken accordingly.” He noted that an evaluation issued on the 10th of this month indicated that the attacker might hold extremist or takfiri views, and a decision regarding his status was scheduled to be issued tomorrow, the first working day of the week.
The Interior Ministry spokesperson added that the ongoing investigation includes examining the attacker’s digital data to determine whether he had direct organizational ties to ISIS or merely adopted extremist ideology, as well as reviewing his acquaintances and relatives. He noted that new security and protection protocols will be implemented by the international coalition leadership in coordination with Internal Security Command in the Badia.
MHD
