Syria’s Interior Ministry carried out two separate security operations in Rural Damascus governorate (the countryside surrounding Damascus), arresting an Islamic State leader in Damascus and killing another in the town of al-Buwaydah (Rural Damascus), in cooperation with the General Intelligence Service and in coordination with the International Coalition.
Brigadier General Ahmad al-Dalati, head of Internal Security in Rural Damascus, said on Wednesday evening, 24 December, that specialized Interior Ministry units, working with the General Intelligence Service and the International Coalition, raided an Islamic State hideout in Muadamiyat al-Sham (Rural Damascus, west of Damascus).
He said the operation resulted in the arrest of the group’s leader in Damascus, known as the “wali of Damascus,” Taha al-Zaabi, also known as “Abu Omar Tibbiya,” along with several of his aides. Authorities also seized a suicide belt and a military grade weapon in his possession.
On Thursday, 25 December, the ministry carried out a second operation in al-Buwaydah (Rural Damascus), as a follow up to the Muadamiyat al-Sham raid. The operation resulted in the killing of Mohammad Shahada, known as “Abu Omar Shaddad,” whom the ministry described as a prominent Islamic State leader in Syria and the group’s “wali of Horan” (southern Syria).
In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the Interior Ministry said the two operations were part of ongoing efforts to pursue Islamic State cells, within joint coordination with international partners. It said this contributes to strengthening security and stability and preventing any potential threat to civil peace.
The ministry stressed that its agencies remain on “the highest level of readiness,” and that they will continue to pursue anyone involved in, or seeking to undermine, Syria’s security and sovereignty, according to the statement.
Islamic State activity rises
Between 16 November and 25 December 2025, Islamic State carried out 22 operations across different parts of Syria, including armed attacks, assassinations, and bombings.
These operations killed and wounded 29 people, including members of the Syrian army and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Most attacks were concentrated in Deir Ezzor (eastern Syria), which recorded 14 operations, followed by Idlib (northwest Syria) with three. The remaining attacks were spread across Damascus, Homs, Aleppo, Hama, and al-Hasakah.
Key incidents included attacks targeting government and security patrols in the Aleppo and Idlib countryside, the assassination of a judicial official in Deir Hassan (northern Idlib), the bombing of an Internal Security vehicle in Ma’araba (Rural Damascus), and attacks on oil tankers belonging to the SDF in Deir Ezzor.
Large scale US operation
On 20 December, US forces launched military strikes against Islamic State after US President Donald Trump vowed a “decisive” response to the Palmyra (Tadmur, central Syria) attack.
The strikes targeted both the Maadan desert (Raqqa countryside, northern Syria) and the al-Hamad desert (Deir Ezzor countryside, eastern Syria).
More than 70 targets were hit across multiple locations using fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery. The operation used more than 100 munitions for precision strikes on Islamic State infrastructure and weapons storage sites.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Brad Cooper described the operation as “decisive” in preventing Islamic State from planning “terrorist” attacks against the United States.
A US official told NBC that the US military used A 10 and F 16 aircraft, Apache helicopters, and HIMARS systems, while Jordanian F 16s also provided support.
According to two US officials, the strikes could continue for several weeks, or up to a month.
Syrian Interior Ministry announces it has neutralized Islamic State’s “Wali of Horan” Enab Baladi.
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