Damascus, Syria – Syrian authorities reported that security forces killed a senior ISIL (ISIS) commander, Mohammed Shahadeh, in a targeted raid near Damascus on Thursday. The Interior Ministry described Shahadeh, also known as Abu Omar Shaddad, as one of ISIL’s top commanders in Syria and a direct threat to local security.

Targeted Operation in al-Buweida

The raid took place in the town of al-Buweida, near Qatana, southwest of the capital. Syrian special forces, in coordination with the General Intelligence Directorate and international coalition partners, conducted the operation following verified intelligence and extensive surveillance.

Officials said the strike aimed to dismantle ISIL networks operating in the Damascus countryside and marked the second high-profile ISIL operation in the area within 24 hours.

Arrest of Another Senior ISIL Figure

A day earlier, Syrian internal security forces arrested Taha al-Zoubi in a separate operation in Maadamiya, southwest of Damascus. Authorities seized a suicide belt and military weapon during the arrest, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by ISIL sleeper cells.

Brigadier General Ahmad al-Dalati, head of internal security in the Damascus countryside, described the raids as “crippling blows” to ISIL’s remaining infrastructure in southern Syria.

ISIL’s Ongoing Threat

Though ISIL lost its territorial strongholds in Iraq (2017) and Syria (2019), the group continues to carry out attacks in northern Syria, Iraq, parts of Africa, and Afghanistan. Syrian authorities emphasize that targeting senior commanders like Shahadeh is critical to preventing future attacks and maintaining stability in the region.