Syrian security forces kill five suspected IS militants near Damascus

Syrian security forces conducted a counterterrorism operation targeting an Islamic State cell in the vicinity of Damascus, the country's Interior Ministry confirmed. The raid resulted in the deaths of five suspected IS fighters, while security personnel apprehended six additional suspects at the scene.

The operation came at a cost to government forces, with two Syrian security officers killed during the engagement. Details regarding the specific location of the raid and the circumstances surrounding the deaths were not immediately disclosed by authorities.

The action represents continued efforts by Syrian government forces to suppress remnants of the Islamic State militant group, which once controlled vast swaths of Syrian territory before being largely driven out in recent years. Security operations targeting suspected IS cells remain a regular occurrence across Syria as authorities work to eliminate remaining pockets of the organization's presence.

The Interior Ministry did not provide additional information regarding the identities of those arrested or the specific charges they would face.