The ministry says five suspected ISIL members were killed and six arrested in the Rankous raid, while residents gave a different account of the group’s size and losses.
Two Syrian internal security officers were killed and five wounded during a raid on a suspected cell of the armed group ISIL, also known as ISIS, near Damascus on October 22, Syria’s Interior Ministry said. The operation began that morning in Rankous, in the western Damascus countryside.
The raid followed other reported operations against ISIL earlier in October in the Damascus countryside and the Houla area of Homs. Al Jazeera described the operations as part of the government’s effort to dismantle the group’s networks and prevent attacks.
The ministry said the suspects refused to surrender and opened fire, triggering the clashes. It reported seizing weapons and explosive belts.
Residents described a smaller group of about nine people and gave a different account of its casualties.
| Account | Suspected members killed | Other reported outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| Interior Ministry | Five | Six arrested |
| Residents | Two | Two escaped; an unknown number injured |
Residents told Al Jazeera that fighting began around 6am local time (03:00 GMT) and lasted two to three hours. Al Jazeera reported that some wounded security personnel were seriously hurt. Residents also told the local outlet Syria Now that security forces imposed a curfew and arrested several people.
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