Two Syrian security officers killed in raid on suspected ISIL cell near Damascus

Syrian security forces have carried out a raid on a suspected ISIL cell in Rankous, in the western Damascus countryside, leaving two internal security officers dead and five others wounded. The Interior Ministry said the operation took place on Thursday morning and targeted a group suspected of planning attacks in the area. Officials said the suspects refused to surrender, and gunfire broke out during the raid.

According to the ministry, five alleged ISIL members were killed and six others were arrested. Weapons and explosive belts were also seized during the operation, which the ministry described as part of wider efforts to dismantle ISIL networks. Residents in the area said the clashes began around 6am local time and lasted for two to three hours, while some of the wounded security personnel were reported to have been seriously hurt.

The raid underlines the continuing security challenge posed by ISIL cells in Syria, even after the group lost its territorial strongholds years ago. Syrian authorities have repeatedly said they are trying to prevent attacks on security forces and civilian targets, including places of worship and patrols. The ministry also said it had foiled an ISIL plot in the Damascus countryside and dismantled a cell in the Homs area earlier this month.

The incident is significant because it took place close to the capital, in an area where the government has been trying to maintain tighter control. It also comes as Syrian forces continue to confront small, mobile cells rather than the large formations that once held territory. The reported seizure of explosive belts suggests the group may have been preparing for further attacks, although officials have not given details of any specific target linked to Thursday's raid.

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The ministry said the operation followed intelligence work and was aimed at a cell operating in Rankous, a town in the Damascus countryside. Local reports said security forces imposed a curfew and arrested several people after the clashes. Residents also gave a different account of the size of the group, saying it may have been smaller than the official version and that some members may have escaped.

What remains unclear is whether the six arrests and five deaths fully disrupted the network, or whether any suspects remain at large. It is also not clear whether the wounded officers are in stable condition. The ministry has not said whether the raid was linked to any specific planned attack, and further official details may emerge as the investigation continues.

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