Syria carries out preemptive raids against Islamic State | Syria

Syria is carrying out nationwide preventive operations targeting Islamic State cells, an interior ministry spokesman said on Saturday.

Syrian security forces carried out 61 raids, arrested 71 people, and seized explosives and weapons, the spokesman told state-run Al Ekhbariya TV.

The raids came ahead of Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara’s visit to Washington to meet with Donald Trump and join the US-led coalition against the Islamic State.

The U.S. State Department and Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Washington is preparing to establish a military presence at an air base in Damascus to enable a security agreement brokered between Syria and Israel, six sources familiar with the matter previously told Reuters.

A US administration official also previously said that Washington is constantly evaluating the necessary posture in Syria to effectively combat the Islamic State.