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On June 30, Saad al-Din Sabbagh, a senior commander of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) security forces, told the HTS-linked news network Iba’a that the radical group has eliminated the last cells of ISIS inside and around the town of Sarmin in the southeastern Idlib countryside after a successfully security operation.
During the operation, several members of ISIS were killed and captured by HTS’ security forces, according to Sabbath. The radical group also uncovered the bodies of eight of its fighters who had been previously executed by ISIS cells.
HTS launched its security operation against ISIS cells in the southeastern Idlib countryside side on June 28. A day later, a ceasefire between the radical group and ISIS was arranged, but ISIS violated it within hours, according to local sources.
ISIS will likely maintain a strong presence in the governorate of Idlib, despite of HTS’ claims. The remaining cells of the terrorist group may even carry out attacks against HTS and its allies in response to this security operation, as they had done before.
Photos of the HTS security operation:
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