Syrian authorities have arrested two senior members of the Palestinian armed faction Islamic Jihad, marking a significant shift in alliances within the Middle East. The group announced on Tuesday that Khaled Khaled, its leader in Syria, and Yasser al-Zafari, another senior figure, have been in custody for five days.
Syria’s interior ministry confirmed the detention but did not provide a reason for the arrests. Islamic Jihad stated that the officials were detained “without any explanation” and described the action as unexpected from allies.
The arrest of these senior Palestinian officials indicates a change in Syria's stance, as the country, under President Bashar al-Assad, has historically been allied with Iran and served as a base for various Palestinian armed groups. However, since Mr. Assad was ousted by rebels in December, the new leadership has been working to regain control over armed factions within the country and reduce ties with Iran and its affiliates.
The Trump administration has set conditions for the new Syrian rulers to receive a limited easing of sanctions, which include taking action against extremist groups, according to officials familiar with the discussions. The new leadership is keen to alleviate sanctions that are obstructing economic recovery and postwar reconstruction efforts.
Following Mr. al-Assad's departure, Ahmed al-Shara, the then-leader of the rebel coalition, requested the United States to begin easing sanctions. Mr. al-Shara is now serving as president. While some U.S. restrictions on humanitarian aid to Syria have been relaxed, many sanctions remain in effect.
The arrests of the Palestinian officials coincided with a recent visit by Republican congressmen to Damascus, marking the first visit by American lawmakers to Syria in several years and suggesting a growing interest from their party in the situation within the war-torn country.