BEIRUT – ISIS has conducted a security crackdown in Al-Boukamal after local officials in the jihadist group fled the eastern Syrian town near the border with Iraq, according to opposition media.
All4Syria reported Tuesday that ISIS launched a “wide-scale campaign of arrests” after the Wali (leader) and top health official in Al-Boukamal deserted the jihadist group last month and fled to an unknown destination.
ISIS arrested a number of Hisbah religious police members as well as other security officers on charges of “facilitating the dissident leaders' escape” the pro-rebel rebel outlet added.
The report explained further that the arrests were authorized by the Islamic Court judge in Al-Boukamal, an Egyptian national, due to the top security posts in the city remaining vacant amid the recent shake-ups.
ISIS earlier detained its most prominent security official in Al-Boukamal, Abu al-Haytham, on suspicions of helping the city’s Wali, Mohammad al-Murshid, escape a little over a week ago, according to activists speakingto the pro-opposition Smart News Agency.
An anti-ISIS activist group, Deir Ezzor 24, for its part, said on October 2 that the extremist organization “arrested a number of security personnel” after Murshid, a Saudi national, fled for whereabouts unknown.
On September 27, the group claimed that Murshid stole an estimated $800,000 funds and left the town with his family and bodyguards.
His desertion came days after Abu Anas al-Iraqi, the head of ISIS health services in its Wilayat Furat (Euphrates Province), also fled Al-Boukamal.
NOW's English news desk editor Albin Szakola (@AlbinSzakola) wrote this report. Amin Nasr translated Arabic-language material.
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