Syria Detains Two Leaders of Palestinian Islamic Jihad

 Syria Detains Two Leaders of Palestinian Islamic Jihad

The Syrian authorities have detained two senior members of the Palestinian militant faction Islamic Jihad, according to the group's armed wing, Al Quds Brigades, and a Syrian official. The detainees are Khaled Khaled, who heads Islamic Jihad's operations in Syria, and Yasser al-Zafari, who heads its organisational committee. They have been in custody for five days without any explanation for their arrest.

See also:The Divisive Impact of Tribalism

The detention comes at a time when Syria's new Islamist leadership is trying to rebuild the country's regional and international backing, including with the United States. The US has given Syria a list of conditions for partial sanctions relief, including keeping Iran-backed groups at a distance. Islamic Jihad, which receives Iranian funding and support, has been a target of Israeli strikes in Syria. The group's allies in the region, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, have recently suffered significant setbacks.