Global Coalition-led Operation Arrests 3 ISIS Leaders in Deir Ezzor

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and US troops during a patrol in Hasakeh, Syria. (Reuters)
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and US troops during a patrol in Hasakeh, Syria. (Reuters)
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Global Coalition-led Operation Arrests 3 ISIS Leaders in Deir Ezzor

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and US troops during a patrol in Hasakeh, Syria. (Reuters)
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and US troops during a patrol in Hasakeh, Syria. (Reuters)

A security operation led by the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in the eastern countryside of Syria’s Deir Ezzor, resulted in the arrest of three ISIS commanders, announced a top Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) leader.

The source said that the detainees are head of Zakat, head of the Finance Diwan and commander of assassinations in Deir Ezzor.

He revealed that the forces raided the homes of the suspects in the town of Diban, and arrested them along with eight others on charges of secretly dealing with active cells affiliated with ISIS.

Official military spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), Colonel Wayne Marotto announced that the coalition forces conducted a series of strikes on ISIS camps in a remote area of the Syrian Desert, or Badiya, in the early hours of October 4.

The desert is a known terrorist safe haven with a large concentration of ISIS fighters, said Marotto, adding that ISIS “uses these desolate, war-torn spaces to train fighters and plot their malicious terrorist attacks throughout the region and abroad.”

The spokesman asserted that the coalition and SDF will not stop denying terrorists these safe havens, saying it "remains the most effective force against ISIS in Syria."

Meanwhile, the Kurdish Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, announced it will allow thousands of Syrians, including families of ISIS fighters, in al-Hol camp to leave for their areas.

The co-chair of the Syrian Democratic Council, the political wing of Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), Riad Derar said that Syrians will leave al-Hol and only foreigners will remain.

Syrian relatives of the extremist group fighters “will be released with guarantees from their families”, Derar was quoted by AFP.

The official did not provide a date for the release and said the decision does not include Syrian extremists held by the SDF.



Egypt Deports Dozens More Foreign Nationals Heading for March to Gaza

 Palestinians carry bags containing food and humanitarian aid packages delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organization, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP)
Palestinians carry bags containing food and humanitarian aid packages delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organization, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP)
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Egypt Deports Dozens More Foreign Nationals Heading for March to Gaza

 Palestinians carry bags containing food and humanitarian aid packages delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organization, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP)
Palestinians carry bags containing food and humanitarian aid packages delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organization, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP)

Egyptian authorities on Friday detained or deported more foreign nationals seeking to join a pro-Palestinian march to Gaza.

Hundreds of international activists arrived in Egypt this week for the Global March to Gaza, an initiative aimed at pressuring Israel to end its blockade of the enclave.

Organizers said on Thursday people from 80 countries were set to begin the march to Egypt's Rafah Crossing with Gaza.

Egypt's Foreign Ministry has said visits to the Rafah border region must be coordinated in advance with Egyptian embassies or government entities and underlined the need to follow official procedures to ensure safety and security.

Organizers say they coordinated with Egyptian authorities and have urged the government to release those detained.

Groups of foreign participants were being held at checkpoints, and sit-ins had begun at two locations on the road leading to the Rafah crossing, organizers said.

They said police were stopping vehicles about 30 km (20 miles) from Ismailia, close to the Sinai peninsula, en route to Rafah, nearly 300 km away. Police were forcing passengers with non-Egyptian passports to disembark, they said.

Security sources confirmed that at least 88 individuals had been detained or deported from Cairo airport and other locations.

Officials at Cairo International Airport said new directives were issued to airlines requiring all passengers travelling to Egypt between June 12 and 16 to hold confirmed return tickets.

Three airport sources told Reuters on Thursday at least 73 foreign nationals had been deported on a flight to Istanbul after authorities said they violated entry protocols, and that about 100 more were at the airport awaiting deportation.

Israel's defense minister told the Israeli military on Wednesday to prevent demonstrators entering Gaza from Egypt, and said the march was a threat to Israeli and regional security.