Syrian forces arrest nine-member ISIS cell in Quneitra

On Sunday, Syrian security forces apprehended a cell of nine individuals linked to ISIS in Quneitra, according to state news agency Sana. The operation aimed to disrupt the terrorist group's supply lines by targeting its members who were involved in weapon collection and explosive transportation. The Internal Security Forces, led by Musab Khalil Al Sheikh, also known as "Al Sini," arrested the group's leader.

Al Sheikh was previously associated with Abu Abdul Rahman Al Iraqi, a prominent ISIS figure who was killed in Deraa in 2022. The arrests occurred in Khan Arnabeh, a southern Syrian region where Israeli forces frequently conduct operations. In response to the recent surge in ISIS attacks, Syrian authorities have intensified their efforts to neutralize the remaining terrorist cells.

They reported successfully "disarming" two ISIS operatives who were allegedly planning an explosion in the predominantly Shiite Sayyida Zeinab neighborhood of Damascus. The new Syrian government, which assumed power in late 2024, has pledged to maintain security and combat extremism, despite the personal and ideological connections between President Ahmad Al Shara and ISIS's leadership.

Despite years of international counterterrorism efforts, ISIS remains a significant threat to international peace and security, according to a recent UN official's briefing on the group's 23rd report. The UN Office of Counterterrorism warned that ISIS continues to exploit unstable security environments and conflicts to maintain its presence.

The recent increase in ISIS attacks in Syria, from 16 in 2025 to 52 in the first half of 2026, is attributed to the government's anti-ISIS campaign launched following a US soldier's death in Palmyra in December 2025.