The Northern and Eastern Syria Internal Security Forces Press Liaison Center announced that the Anti-Terrorist Forces (HAT) conducted a special operation in the town of El Siwêdiyê in the north of Tabqa and captured a 7-mercenary ISIS cell.

The statement noted: “Our forces monitored the movements of many suspects in rural Tabqa and determined that they were a cell affiliated with ISIS mercenaries trying to destroy the security of the region. On 22 December, Anti-Terrorist Forces (HAT) conducted a special operation in the town of El Siwêdiyê, north of Tabqa, and captured the 7 mercenaries.

Our operations against these cells, which seek to destroy peace and security in our regions by taking strength from the attacks of the Turkish state, will continue.”