Syrian forces launch operation against IS militants in Latakia

Syrian’s Internal Security Forces on Monday announced that they had dismantled “a terrorist cell considered one of the most dangerous cells linked to IS” following a security operation in the Badrousiyah area in northern Latakia province.

Brigadier General Abdul Aziz Hilal Al-Ahmed, head of Internal Security in the province, said the operation was carried out in cooperation with Syrian intelligence, after close monitoring and surveillance of the cell’s members, who had been planning to carry out attacks “targeting the security and stability of Syria’s coastal region”.

“During the raid, an armed clash broke out as the cell members attempted to resist, which resulted in the arrest of all members and the neutralization of two of them after they refused to surrender,” Al-Ahmed said.

It was not clear if the two had been killed in the operation. One Syrian intelligence officer was seriously wounded in the clash.

The Islamic State (IS) militant group has had a presence in Syria since 2013 and used to control vast swathes of territory. It was territorially defeated in 2019 but cells are still active. Earlier this month, Syria officially joined the global coalition against IS.

The Internal Security Command said that efforts are ongoing against militant groups in the area, adding that any attempt to threaten coastal security or support terrorist groups will be met with “firmness and force”.

In Aleppo province in northern Syria, the Internal Security Command also said it had targeted cells affiliated with the Islamic State group in the Afrin area.

Latakia province and the Syrian coast, where the majority of the population is from the Alawite sect, were the scene of sectarian violence last March when elements loyal to the former Assad regime launched a violent uprising, killing hundreds of members of the security forces.

Government forces and government affiliated militias deployed to the area, killing hundreds of civilians as well as fighters loyal to Assad.

Syria recently began public trials for some members of government-affiliated forces accused of crimes against civilians.

Also on Tuesday, several hundred of members of the Alawite community protested in Latakia province against sectarianism, calling for government affiliated militias to leave the area.

On Sunday, the city of Homs, which has a religiously mixed population, was hit by sectarian violence following the murder of a Sunni Bedouin couple.

Sectarian slogans associated with the Alawi minority were found at the scene of the murder and armed Bedouin fighters rampaged through Alawi areas of Homs, attacking homes and setting fire to cars before security forces deployed and imposed a curfew.

Syrian authorities however said that the motivation for the murder was purely criminal and the sectarian slogans were written in an attempt to mislead authorities.