Thread by @Charles_Lister

NEW - #Syria’s interim gov’t GSS has captured senior #ISIS commander Abu al-Harith al-Iraqi in a targeted raid.

His capture is linked to US intel sharing with #Damascus. Abu al-Harith has been behind a string of high-profile #ISIS plots in #Syria. A 🧵:

When in #Damascus, I was told of 8 #ISIS plots that had been foiled by #Syria’s Interior Ministry GSS force since Jan 1, 2025 — all tied directly or indirectly to U.S. intel tip-offs.

There’s an ongoing [US-#HTS] exchange on #ISIS.

Abu al-Harith was the planner & facilitator of the #ISIS plot to massacre Shia Muslims in #Damascus’ Sayyida Zeinab foiled in January by #Syria’s GSS, per a US intel tip-off.

He also coordinated the April ‘24 assassination of Abu Mariya al-Qahtani.

#ISIS ops in #Syria have plunged to all-time lows since #Assad fell, as much of the group’s manpower was shifted to #Iraq.

Why? The advantageous vacuum & recruitment dynamic under #Assad vanished on Dec 8 & #ISIS always accused #HTS of working with the US.

Since taking power on Dec 8, the #HTS-led transition has also found itself regularly in contact (in-person & virtual) with US military forces in northeast #Syria.

I was told communication occurs “daily”, as they deconflict & coordinate on D-#ISIS.

The US military (@CJTFOIR) has also taken a dynamic role in pushing #SDF-#Damascus negotiations — facilitating & attending high-level talks at Dumayr Airbase & facilitating regional mediation attempts (KRG, #Qatar).

All in all, a sea change in recent months.