Syria arrests senior PIJ officials after US sets demands for sanctions relief

Syrian authorities have arrested two senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leaders in what appears to be a move to meet US demands for sanctions relief. 

In a statement published on Tuesday, PIJ said that Khaled Khaled, head of the Syrian chapter of the group, and Abu Ali Yasser, head of its executive committee in Syria, were detained five days ago. 

The group said the arrests occurred “without any explanation” and in “a manner we would not have hoped to see from our brothers, whose land has always been a haven for loyal and free people”. 

“We have been fighting the Zionist enemy continuously for more than a year and a half in the Gaza Strip without surrender,” it said. “We hope to extend a helping hand and appreciation from our Arab brothers, not the other way around.” 

There was no immediate comment from Syrian authorities. 

Read more: Syria arrests senior PIJ officials after US sets demands for sanctions relief