Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) last week apprehended an "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) "emir" in southern al-Hasakeh province, an SDF official said.

The arrest comes as part of intensive SDF and international coalition efforts to pursue sleeper cells affiliated with ISIS, SDF officer Farhad Khoja told Diyaruna.

An SDF Anti-Terror Unit, backed by international coalition forces, raided a house in al-Shaddadi in southern al-Hasakeh province and arrested Mohammed Rashid Diyab, the so-called emir of the group's "health diwan", Khoja said.

The operation was executed "quickly and successfully", he said, and Diyab was transported to an investigation centre, where he will be interrogated.

The raid comes as part of the security plan the SDF put in place in the areas under its control to pursue ISIS remnants and prevent them from taking any malign action, he said.

It is especially important to foil any plans the extremists may have to make inroads during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, he said, while the attention of the security forces and public is focused on preventing its spread.

Keeping pressure on ISIS

In a separate operation, Khoja said, the SDF engaged in a firefight with three ISIS elements near Ain Issa in al-Raqa province, and prevented them from infiltrating into the city.

The extremists were able to escape, but left behind a motorcycle with a license plate inscribed with "Islamic State -- Raqa Province" and the number 60594.

Meanwhile, he added, security forces stationed near the Aleppo province city of Manbij killed an ISIS foreign fighter who had been trying to infiltrate into the area, with a quantity of explosives in his possession.

Security has been tightened in northern and eastern Syria after reports indicating a number of ISIS elements had returned to rural Homs province and the Syrian Badiya (desert) were confirmed, he said.

Extremists appear to be taking advantage of the current preoccupation with the prevention of the spread of coronavirus to make inroads in some areas, he said.

But he stressed that the SDF are giving equal attention to both health and security, in order to ensure that security prevails in the areas under their control.