Syrian Security Forces Kill Islamic State Cell in Rankous
Syrian security forces killed an Islamic State cell in Rankous, resulting in two security personnel deaths and five injuries during the operation.
The Syrian Internal Security Forces and the General Intelligence Directorate killed an Islamic State cell during a joint operation in Rankous, located in the western Damascus countryside near the Lebanese border. The raid on Thursday resulted in the deaths of two Syrian security personnel and left five others injured.
This operation is part of a broader campaign by interim authorities to restore order and secure weapons following the fall of Bashar Assad in December 2024. Recent security actions include the dismantling of an Islamic State cell in Homs province that targeted places of worship and the foil of a plot on October 16 to attack a police patrol.
As part of these efforts, the Interior Ministry arrested Khaled Raed Birouni, the military commander for the Islamic State in Homs province. Birouni is accused of overseeing sectarian attacks, including a mosque bombing in December 2025.
