Damascus, Aug. 9 (SANA)Syrian security forces arrested a nine-member cell affiliated with the ISIS terrorist group in the southern province of Quneitra, the Interior Ministry said on Sunday, as security forces continue operations targeting the terrorist organization’s networks and supply lines.

The Internal Security Forces, working with the General Intelligence Service, arrested the cell in Khan Arnabah as part of ongoing efforts to track down ISIS members and disrupt the group’s supply networks, the ministry said.

Among those arrested was the cell’s leader, Musab Khalil al-Sheikh, known by the alias “al-Sini” (“the Chinese”), who had been active withISISin Damascus and its countryside, the Syrian Badia and villages in the Hauran region.The ministry said al-Sheikh had also operated within a group affiliated with Abu Abdulrahman al-Iraqi, who led the organization at the time and was killed inDaraain 2022.

Preliminary investigations found that the cell had carried out tasks for ISIS, including collecting weapons and transporting explosive devices and related materials, as well as other activities intended to support the group’s operations, according to the ministry.

The nine suspects were referred to the relevant authorities for further investigation and legal proceedings, the ministry said.