Syrian Kurds on January 6-7 apprehended eight men, including Askar Zarmanbetov of Ukrainian origin, in Deir al-Zour, eastern Syria, about 15 miles from the Iraqi border, on suspicion in cooperation with the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group.
Zarmanbetov, 27, is reportedly of Ukrainian origin and is known as Abu Dawoud Nougha, the Kurdish People's Protection Units, known as the YPG, reported on January 9, according to the Ukrainian news outlet Gordonua.com.
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Among the captives are 16-year-old U.S. national Soulay Noah Su (aka Abu Souleiman al-Amriki), 30-year-old citizen of Russia Begjan Bimuraev (Abu Sara), 31-year-old citizen of Germany Lucas Glaß (Abu Ibrahim al-Almani). Two citizens of Uzbekistan (Adil Rahimov, 58, aka Abu Amina Uzbeki and Farhad Qaderov, 28, aka Abu Bilal Uzbeki), one citizen of Tajikistan (Mohammad Dawlat, 22, aka Abu Moshab Tajiki) and one citizen of Kazakhstan (Sattibek Oshibaev, 30, aka Abu Rouqaya) were also captured in Deir al-Zour.
The YPG claims the alleged terrorists planned attacks on civilians.
Mohammad Dawlat, 22, Tajikistan
— Rojava Defense Units | YPG (@DefenseUnits) January 9, 2019
Askar Zarmanbetov, 27, Ukraine
Lucas Glaß, 31, Germany
Bimuraev Begjan, 30, Russia pic.twitter.com/aAlxknIPCW
The Syrian Kurds say only isolated centers of jihadists' resistance are left in Deir al-Zour.
The war in Syria began in 2011. Syria's government forces, the opposition, radical Islamists, Kurds and ISIS fighters are involved in the hostilities. In September 2014, an operation against ISIS was launched by a U.S.-led coalition. Russia joined the conflict in Syria in September 2015, Turkey in August 2016.