Saudi and Yemeni special forces have captured the head of the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) group's branch in Yemen, the Arab Coalition announced Tuesday (June 25th).
The leader identified as Abu Osama al-Muhajir was caught in an early June raid along with other members of the group including its chief financial officer, coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said in a statement.
Saudi special forces in co-operation with their Yemeni counterparts "conducted a successful operation that resulted in the capture of the leader of the ISIS branch in Yemen -- Abu Osama al-Muhajir," al-Maliki said.
"A house kept under close surveillance proved the presence of the terror group's leader, and other elements, along with three women and three children."
Al-Maliki did not specify the location of the house or where the raid was conducted, but said there were no civilian casualties.
ISIS and other extremist groups have flourished in the chaos of the country's civil war, which pits the government against the Iran-backed Houthis (Ansarallah).
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is also active in Yemen.
Last month, four suspected al-Qaeda members were killed in a suicide attack claimed by ISIS in al-Bayda province, a local official told AFP.
