Monday, August 10, 2026 - Syrian security forces have arrested a nine-member cell accused of operating for ISIS in Khan Arnabah, a town in Quneitra province directly adjacent to the demilitarized zone along the Israel-Syria border.
Syria’s Interior Ministry said the suspects were involved in collecting weapons, transporting explosives and supporting other activities linked to the extremist group. The operation highlights the continuing security pressure in southern Syria, where authorities are working to prevent militant networks from establishing a foothold.
Among those arrested was the alleged cell leader, Musab Khalil al-Sheikh, also known as “al-Sini” or “the Chinese.” Syrian authorities linked him to previous ISIS operations in several parts of the country and said he had previously worked with a cell commanded by Abu Abdulrahman al-Iraqi, an ISIS southern commander who was killed in Daraa in 2022.
The Interior Ministry said the arrests were part of broader efforts to track ISIS members and disrupt the group’s supply networks.
The arrests come as Damascus intensifies its campaign against ISIS cells across Syria. Authorities said in June that 235 suspected ISIS members had been detained during security operations over the previous three months, including Syrians and foreign nationals.
The latest operation is particularly significant because of its location near the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights and the sensitive demilitarized zone, putting renewed focus on the threat posed by militant activity in southern Syria.
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