Khalid Khalid, the head of the Syrian branch of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement, and Abu Ali Yasser, the head of the branch’s organisational committee, have been arrested by security forces in Syria.
The reasons behind the arrests have not been officially disclosed, however Palestinian Islamic Jihad has provided the following statement:
“The Syrian authorities did not clarify the reasons for the arrest. The arrest was carried out in a way we would not have hoped to see from our brothers, whose land has always been a haven for loyal and free people.
“We hope that our brothers in the Syrian government will release our brothers who are in their custody, and we are hopeful that you are worthy of the Arab chivalry with which guests are honoured and the people of truth are supported.
“We affirm that our rifles, since their launch, have been aimed only at the enemy’s chests, and have never deviated from their primary goal, which is the entirety of Palestinian territory. When the Al-Quds Brigades offered martyrs from the Syrian arena, they offered them on the borders of occupied Palestine.”
Palestinian Islamic Jihad
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) is a Palestinian-based armed movement established in 1981 with the goal of liberating all of historic Palestine through armed resistance.
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PIJ maintains close ties with Iran and Hezbollah, and its military wing — the Al-Quds Brigades — has been active in both Gaza and Syria.
In the Syrian context, PIJ has historically operated with relative freedom and has collaborated with the Assad regime in support of broader regional resistance movements.
The group has also suffered casualties in Syria, claiming its fighters were martyred near the occupied Golan Heights while confronting Israel.
The arrest of Khalid Khalid and Abu Ali Yasser marks an unusual and significant development, as Syria has long been seen as a safe zone and logistical base for the group.
The lack of official explanation from Syrian authorities has raised questions about shifting dynamics between Damascus and its Palestinian allies.
Pressure on the Syrian authorities?
In the absence of an official explanation, critics are suggesting that the arrests may have been made under pressure to clear obstacles for the lifting of U.S. sanctions.
Since the departure of Bashar al-Assad roughly four months ago, President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani have met with representatives from at least 60 governments.
Syria’s transitional leadership has thus seen a surge in international engagement. Damascus has rapidly become one of the most visited capitals for diplomatic activity.
The United States, for the first time, sent Republican lawmakers Cory Mills and Marlin Stutzman for an informal visit to Syria on April 18.
The involvement of Congressman Cory Mills was controversial — a figure known for overseeing U.S. occupation operations in Iraq and widely criticised for his staunch pro-Israel stance.
Their visit appears to have influenced the recent approval of visas for Syrian officials, who are expected to travel to Washington and New York between April 22 and 28 for high-level meetings.
