Syria Arrests Senior ISIL Leader Taha al-Zoubi Near Damascus

Syria's Ministry of Interior has reported the arrest of Taha al-Zoubi, a prominent leader of the Islamic State (ISIL) group, during an operation in the countryside of Damascus. The state-run SANA news agency disclosed that the operation took place in Maadamiya, a town located southwest of the capital.

According to Brigadier General Ahmad al-Dalati, who oversees internal security in the Damascus region, the operation was executed with precision and involved collaboration with an international coalition led by the United States. Al-Dalati noted that the raid targeted a specific ISIL hideout after extensive intelligence gathering and surveillance.

During the operation, security forces seized a suicide belt and military-grade weaponry from al-Zoubi, also referred to by his nom de guerre, Abu Omar Tabiya. The official stated that al-Zoubi had been serving as the group’s governor of Damascus and that several of his associates were also apprehended.

Describing the arrest as a significant setback for ISIL operations in the area, al-Dalati remarked, "We send a clear message to anyone who dares to engage in the project of terrorism or lend support to ISIS: The hand of justice will reach them wherever they are."

ISIL, which has persistently viewed the Syrian government as illegitimate, has primarily focused its efforts on Kurdish forces in northern Syria. At its zenith, the group controlled territory equivalent to half the size of the United Kingdom, with Raqqa serving as the capital of its self-declared caliphate.

The group gained notoriety for its extreme brutality, including mass killings and public executions. Although ISIL was defeated in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria in 2019, remnants of the group continue to carry out violent attacks across both nations and beyond, notably in parts of Africa and Afghanistan.

The recent apprehension of al-Zoubi coincides with increased security measures across Syria, following a surge of attacks targeting both security personnel and civilians. Syrian authorities have committed to intensifying efforts to eliminate ISIL remnants, vowing to hold accountable anyone involved with the group.

This operation illustrates the ongoing challenges faced by Syrian forces and their allies in combating the enduring threat posed by ISIL, despite significant territorial losses in recent years.