Illustrative image, source: sdf-press.com
Late on May 21, the U.S.-led coalition and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) carried out a new security operation in the southeastern Deir Ezzor countryside.
The operation took place in the town of al-Shheell. A joint force of the coalition and the SDF raided several houses in al-Shabkah neighborhood in the center of the town. Heavy clashes broke out as a result.
“A new operation carried out by our special units with the international coalition, through a raid on two positions of the terrorist organization ISIS in al-Shheell,” the SDF’s Coordination and Military Operations Center said in a short statement.
According to the Jesr Press, a pro-opposition news outlet, Mohamad Khalid al-Adad was killed in the clashes. The man was a former director in ISIS’ “Real Estate Directorate.” Several other locals were arrested. Weapons were also seized.
The U.S.-led coalition and the SDF carried out a series of joint security operations in southeast Deir Ezzor in the last few weeks. In the most recent operation, which took place on May 17, two ISIS commanders were killed in the town of al-Busayra.
These operations led to a significant improvement of security in southeast Deir Ezzor. Nevertheless, the security situation still remains complicated. A double-tap bombing in al-Busayra killed and injured 16 people on May 22.
