Thu Dec 25 19:32:15 UTC 2025: Summary:

Syrian authorities, with the support of the General Intelligence Directorate and the international coalition, conducted a raid in the Damascus countryside, killing Mohammed Shahadeh, a senior ISIL commander also known as Abu Omar Shaddad. The operation, which followed verified intelligence and extensive surveillance, took place in al-Buweida, near Qatana. This followed the arrest of another senior ISIL figure, Taha al-Zoubi, in a separate operation near Damascus, where a suicide belt and a military weapon were seized. These operations highlight the ongoing efforts to combat ISIL’s presence in Syria.

News Article:

Syrian Forces Kill Senior ISIL Commander in Damascus Countryside Raid

Damascus, Syria – Syrian security forces, in coordination with the General Intelligence Directorate and the international coalition, have killed a senior commander of the Islamic State group (ISIL) during a targeted raid in the Damascus countryside, according to a statement released by the Interior Ministry on Thursday.

The operation, which took place in the town of al-Buweida, near Qatana, southwest of the capital, resulted in the death of Mohammed Shahadeh, also known as Abu Omar Shaddad. The Interior Ministry described Shahadeh as one of ISIL’s senior commanders in Syria and a direct threat to local security.

“This operation followed verified intelligence and extensive surveillance,” the ministry stated. “Specialized units conducted a targeted raid in al-Buweida to eliminate this key figure within the terrorist organization.”

The announcement comes just a day after Syrian internal security forces arrested another senior ISIL operative, Taha al-Zoubi, in a separate “tightly executed security operation” in the Damascus countryside, as reported by the state-run SANA news agency. During al-Zoubi’s arrest, officers reportedly seized a suicide belt and a military weapon.

Brigadier General Ahmad al-Dalati, head of internal security in the Damascus countryside, told SANA that the raid targeted an ISIL hideout in Maadamiya, southwest of Damascus.

While ISIL has largely focused its remaining operations on Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria, these recent actions demonstrate the group’s continued presence and activity in other parts of the country. Despite suffering significant territorial defeats in recent years, ISIL cells continue to carry out attacks in Syria, Iraq, and other regions around the world.

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