Syrian government forces have initiated a significant military operation aimed at capturing French jihadists hiding in a camp located in the northwest region of the country. This action, which was reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, is specifically targeting individuals wanted by the French government.
According to sources, clashes erupted shortly after midnight as government troops advanced on the site. A French jihadist within the camp, identified only by his alias Jibril al-Mouhajir, confirmed the ongoing violence. He indicated that the French authorities had demanded the handover of two French nationals affiliated with the group to Syrian authorities.
Witnesses in the Harem area, near the Turkish border where the camp is situated, reported an increase in military activity leading up to the operation. Residents noted the arrival of reinforcements and the sound of explosions in the vicinity.
The group in question, known as Firqatul Ghuraba, is led by Omar Omsen, also recognized as Omar Diaby, a former Franco-Senegalese criminal turned militant. In 2016, he was designated as an “international terrorist” by the United States for allegedly facilitating the recruitment of francophone fighters to Syria. Omsen is also wanted under a French arrest warrant.
Security sources in France estimate that roughly 50 members are currently associated with Omsen’s group. Their operations seem to be increasingly marginalized, particularly following shifts in power dynamics among various armed factions in Syria after the ousting of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad in December.
The ongoing Syrian civil war, which began in 2011 amid widespread protests against the government, has resulted in the deaths of over 500,000 individuals. It has also seen thousands of European citizens travel to Syria to engage with jihadist groups, contributing to the volatile situation in the region.
