In first, Syrian regime arrests senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad officials

Palestinian media reports that the new Syrian regime has arrested Khaled Khaled, in charge of the Syrian arena in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror organization, and Abu Ali Yasser, responsible for the organization’s executive committee in Syria.

There is no official confirmation from Syrian authorities on the matter, but the PIJ confirms that both were arrested five days ago by authorities in Damascus. In an official statement, the terror organizations says they were arrested in a manner “it wouldn’t expect” from Syria, and calls for their immediate release.

Until the fall of the Assad regime, senior PIJ officials including leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah were based in Syria. Shortly before the regime’s fall, al-Nakhalah fled the country, but according to Arab media reports, some operatives remain active in the country.