Syria Interim Authorities Reportedly Arrest 2 Leaders of Palestinian Islamic Jihad

Latest Developments

• Arrests Follow Abbas Visit to Damascus: The Syrian interim government’s security forces have reportedly arrested two leaders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist group. While the government has not yet issued a statement on the arrests, PIJ stated on April 22 that Khaled Khaled, head of PIJ in Syria, and Abu Ali Yasser (also known as Yasser al-Zafri), the head of the Iran-backed group’s organizing committee in Syria, were arrested five days earlier. Both were arrested less than 48 hours after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met with interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus.
• U.S. Demands Action For Sanctions Relief: After toppling former President Bashar al-Assad in December, the new government has strived to end the crippling European and U.S. sanctions on Syria levied during his rule. The United States demanded that Syria’s government take a series of steps before it could consider easing sanctions, including the expulsion of Palestinian terrorist organizations. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said on March 31 that “Syria’s interim authorities should fully renounce and suppress terrorism, exclude foreign terrorist fighters from any official roles, [and] prevent Iran and its proxies from exploiting Syrian territory.”
• Terrorists Flourished Under Assad: Iran-backed groups including Hamas, PIJ, and Hezbollah proliferated under the Assad regime. In March, the Israeli Air Force struck a PIJ command center in the Dummar suburb of Damascus. The IDF continues to operate in southern Syria, where it has come under attack. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has stated that “there are thousands of Hamas and [PIJ] activists in Syria, and they want to set our border on fire and create another front against Israel.”

FDD Expert Response

“Don’t celebrate prematurely. It would be a major step forward if Syria’s new government demonstrated zero tolerance for Palestinian terrorism. But we’re still learning about what happened here and why. If Damascus wants the United States to lift sanctions permanently, it needs to show it will not be a sanctuary for any kind of terrorism.” — David Adesnik, Vice President of Research

“The arrest of two PIJ leaders by the Syrian administration may be seen in Washington as a step toward meeting U.S. demands to end Palestinian militant activity, but it’s far from enough. Damascus still harbors foreign jihadists within its government and continues to empower U.S.-sanctioned Turkish proxies. Genuine confidence-building with the United States will require much more than symbolic arrests.” — Ahmad Sharawi, Research Analyst

FDD Background and Analysis

“Erdogan Sets His Sights on Israel,” by Reuel Marc Gerecht

“Syria’s new strongman isn’t living up to his promises for reform,” by Ahmad Sharawi

“IDF Clashes With Gunmen in Southern Syria,” FDD Flash Brief

“‘No Impunity’: Israel Strikes Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Damascus,” FDD Flash Brief