Syrian security authorities said on December 24, 2025, that they had arrested Taha al-Zoubi—also known as Abu Omar Tibiya or Abu Omar Tabiya—whom they identified as the Damascus “wali,” or governor, of Islamic State. 

The arrest, announced by the Interior Ministry, was framed as a leadership-level disruption aimed at weakening ISIS sleeper networks operating in and around the capital.

According to Syrian officials, the raid followed weeks of intelligence monitoring and surveillance and culminated in a coordinated operation involving internal security units, the General Intelligence Directorate, and forces from the U.S.-led international anti-ISIS coalition. 

The target was an ISIS hideout in Maadamiya, a town southwest of Damascus in the capital’s rural outskirts.

Brigadier General Ahmad al-Dalati, head of internal security in Rural Damascus, described the raid as a “precise security operation” that delivered a “crippling blow” to ISIS networks in the capital region. 

Security forces said they seized a suicide explosive belt, military-grade weapons, and additional equipment from the site.

Alongside al-Zoubi, several of his aides were detained. 

While official statements did not specify an exact number, Syrian and regional media outlets reported that multiple associates were captured during the operation. 

The Interior Ministry said the arrests were intended to send a clear message that “the hand of justice will reach” militants regardless of location.

The announcement comes amid heightened counter-ISIS activity following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in late 2024 and the establishment of a new government in Damascus. 

Syrian officials say ISIS considers the current authorities illegitimate and has sought to sustain influence through sleeper cells.

Recent attacks have sharpened the security response. 

A December 13, 2025, assault near Palmyra that killed U.S. personnel prompted an uptick in raids and airstrikes against ISIS targets. 

While United States Central Command has not publicly confirmed involvement in the Maadamiya operation, U.S.-Syrian coordination against ISIS has been noted by officials throughout 2025.