Syrian authorities have announced a counterterrorism operation (CTO) against an Islamic State cell. The operation reportedly took place in the province of Idlib. The Damascus-controlled General Intelligence Directorate (GID) detained nine jihadists. During searches of their homes, cashes of weapons, equipment, grenades, IEDs, including suicide belts, were found. According to the GID, the IS cell was involved in the killing of five Iraqi citizens who participated in hostilities in Syria on the side of Ha’y’at Tahrir al-Sham.

The identities of those detained are still unknown. Opposition media reported that at least one of them had been in GID prison for a long time for criticizing Abu Muhammad al-Julani and was unlikely to be linked to IS. It is possible that al-Julani's people once again staged a counterterrorist operation to portray themselves as fighters against jihadists.