The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) arrested four leading members of the ruling Baath Party, while on their way to Damascus. They were arrested at the crossing point of the town of Tabqa in the western countryside of Raqqa, a government source from the northeastern al-Hasakeh governorate said.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed the identity of the detainees, including Abdullah Al-Khalil, Hamid Al-Jawhar, and Ahmed Al-Salal. They all lead the Baath Party branch in al-Hasakeh.
The campaign launched by the SDF comes in the wake of attempts by the Baath leaders to promote reconciliation and dispute settlement within the administration’s areas of influence east of the Euphrates, such as the cities of Raqqa and Deir Ezzor. It also follows a similar crackdown by the regime’s security agencies on members of the autonomous administration of Aleppo.
Earlier this month, the city of Qamishli witnessed clashes with light weapons that led to the mobilization of the SDF and the pro-government National Defense militias, leaving wounded on both sides.
Meanwhile, an explosive device detonated near the central market in the town of Tabqa in Raqqa, wounding an internal security forces member and damaging a van. The attack took place hours after the SDF arrested the Baath Party members.
A senior security source from the Asayish forces said that a terrorist cell was responsible for the bombing which “targeted one of our members in Tabqa, while he was driving in a civilian van.”
He said he was killed by a remotely detonated explosive.
He added that the forces cordoned off the area as they attempted to hunt down the cell members.
“Our forces immediately went to the scene of the explosion and rushed the injured to the hospital, while the counter-terrorism teams searched for any other explosive materials,” the security source said.
