The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced the killing of a prominent ISIS leader responsible for terror plots and operations in the eastern countryside of Syria’s east governorate of Deir Ezzor. Another significant terror leader was arrested. They were responsible for transferring explosives and ammunition to active members of the terror organization in Deir Ezzor. This comes at a time the US-led International Coalition carried out an airdrop operation west of Deir Ezzor in search of wanted persons, with the participation of three US helicopters and SDF forces. “SDF units killed Abu Hamza Shamiyah, the chief leader responsible for plotting attacks in the area,” Farhad Shami, the director of the SDF media center, told Asharq Al-Awsat. Abu Hamza Shamiyah was the architect of multiple assaults against SDF positions, local tribes, and civilians. He was one of the most wanted fugitives in Deir Ezzor after staging a terror assault that targeted SDF units on February 10. The terror hit resulted in the death of five SDF fighters, according to Shami. “We arrested Shukri Kamal Khalil, in the village of Zghair in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor,” Shami added, noting that the detained terrorist was a leader of multiple sleeper cells. SDF units seized large quantities of weapons, ammunition, and narcotics in Khalil’s possession. On February 13, SDF units arrested an ISIS officer behind a terror funding ring that was supporting the group’s activity in Syria.