The Department of Foreign Affairs is checking reports that an Irish man has been arrested by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighting ISIS in eastern Syria. It says the group was seized during an operation targeting Islamic State's last pocket of control in Northern Syria. The Irish passport-holder is a man in his mid 40s, who previously lived and worked as a security guard in Dublin. "Following long-term technical and physical follow-up, an operation against the cell was carried out by our forces. "As a result of the operation, five terrorists originally from the United States, Ireland and Pakistan were captured."

Source: Irish Examiner January 06, 2019 19:30 UTC