Sat May 17 19:07:54 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
Syrian authorities announced the killing of three ISIL fighters and the arrest of four others in raids targeting ISIL sleeper cells in Aleppo. This is the first announced operation against ISIL in Aleppo by the interim government. One security officer was killed during the operation, which also resulted in the seizure of explosives, a vest, and uniforms. The operation took place in the Haidariya district. This action follows a recent meeting between the interim Syrian President al-Sharaa and US President Trump, where sanctions on Syria were lifted.
**News Article:**
**Syrian Forces Kill ISIL Fighters in Aleppo Raids, Announce Crackdown**
**Aleppo, Syria** – Syrian security forces have killed three ISIL (ISIS) fighters and arrested four others in a series of raids targeting ISIL sleeper cells in Aleppo, authorities announced Saturday. This marks the first publicly acknowledged operation against the group in Syria’s second-largest city by the interim government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The raids, conducted by the General Security Department in coordination with the General Intelligence Service, targeted multiple locations across Aleppo, according to a statement from Syria’s Ministry of Interior. Tragically, one security officer was killed during the operation.
“Our forces successfully stormed several sites and seized explosive devices, an explosive vest, and a number of General Security force uniforms,” the statement read.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the operation, reporting that it took place primarily in Aleppo’s Haidariya district, with clashes also erupting in other neighborhoods.
The operation comes on the heels of a significant week for al-Sharaa’s interim government. President al-Sharaa met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Saudi Arabia, after which Washington announced it would lift sanctions on Syria – a major policy shift that provides a substantial boost to al-Sharaa’s leadership. Al-Sharaa seized power in December after toppling Bashar al-Assad, and severed ties with al-Qaeda in 2016.
This recent operation also follows an earlier announcement by Syrian authorities that they had thwarted an ISIL bombing plot near the Sayeda Zeinab shrine, a major Shia pilgrimage site south of Damascus, signaling an ongoing effort to combat the group’s activities within Syria.
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