US military and the Syrian Democratic Forces have captured an Islamic State (IS) leader who helped organize the escape of detained militants from a detention center in Syria. This was stated in a statement by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) published on Monday, September 2, Voice of America reports.
The statement said that Khaled Ahmed al-Dandal was detained during an operation carried out on the night of Sunday, September 1.
This follows an incident on August 29, when five ISIS militants – two Russians, two Afghans and one Libyan – escaped from a detention centre in the Syrian city of Raqqa. The Syrian Democratic Forces subsequently captured two of the escapees: Imam Abdulwahed Akhwan (Russia) and Muhammad Noh Muhammad (Libya). The search continues for the other three: Timor Talbrken Abdash (Russia), Shuab Muhammad al-Abdli (Afghanistan) and Atal Khaled Zar (Afghanistan).
The command said in a statement that the Islamic State's primary goal remains the release of its detained fighters so that the group can rebuild. The command, along with the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, is focused on preventing future escapes and inflicting a lasting defeat on ISIS in the region.
Central Command chief Gen. Eric Kurilla stressed the gravity of the situation, noting that the more than 9,000 ISIS fighters held in more than 20 detention centers in Syria are “literally and figuratively an ISIS 'army' in custody.”
Eric Kurilla
“The escape of a large number of ISIS fighters poses an exceptional threat to the region and beyond,” the general said, noting that the command will continue to work with the international community to repatriate the detainees to their home countries. ISIS (which stands for “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant”) is the original name of the organization, later shortened to “Islamic State.” ISIS and its cells in various countries around the world are recognized as a terrorist organization in the United States.
Last week, the Voice of America reported that American and Iraqi troops conducted a joint operation, during which 15 militants were eliminated in western Iraq.
Prepared by: Sergey Daga