ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The Syrian Democratic Forces’ (SDF) Deir ez-Zor Military Council on Saturday announced the capture of 12 “wanted individuals and suspects” linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) in the city of Deir ez-Zor in an operation with the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ).

The forces “carried out a wide-scale sweep operation in the town of Gharanij, eastern Deir Ezzor countryside, to pursue ISIS terrorist cells following the recent escalation of their attacks,” said the Military Council in a statement carried by SDF Press.

“During the campaign, participating forces fully swept the town and captured 12 wanted individuals and suspects linked to ISIS sleeper cells,” the statement read.

“They were reportedly plotting terrorist operations against security and military forces, civilians, and vital service facilities in the area, with the aim of spreading chaos and destabilizing public safety.”

ISIS took control of swathes of Syrian and Iraqi territory in 2014, announcing its self-proclaimed caliphate with the Iraqi city of Mosul as its capital. They were territorially defeated with assistance from the US-led coalition forces in Iraq by 2017 and in Syria by 2019.

The US-backed Kurdish forces regularly engage in operations and campaigns targeting remnants of the extremist group within areas under their control. These forces currently control the bulk of the northeastern and eastern regions of Syria, amounting to a quarter of the territory of the country. Formed in 2015, the SDF is considered the Kurdish de facto army.

“The forces also managed to free four fighters of the Deir Ezzor Military Council, who had previously been abducted while receiving medical treatment at a health center outside their official duties,” the statement further noted, affirming that the campaign, which was carried out with “strong support and solidarity” from local tribes, is part of ongoing efforts to protect security and stability in eastern Deir ez-Zor.

The SDF in May announced the arrest of Hamoud Abdullah al-Khatib, ISIS’ alleged economy “emir” and “high-ranking” leader in Deir ez-Zor, in a joint operation with the US-led coalition, less than a month after clashing with remnants of the militant group in the same province in April.

The Kurdish-led group has repeatedly warned of the extremist group's resurgence in the wake of the ouster of former president Bashar al-Assad in December, with the debilitated group operating from territory in the remote desert areas of Homs and Deir ez-Zor provinces.