Islamic State Launches First Attack on Syrian Government Troops After Downfall of Assad Regime, According to Observer
ISIS Spearheads First Strike on New Syrian Regime
In the heart of the Middle East, the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, has made its mark by orchestrating an attack against the Syrian government forces in the wake of Bashar al-Assad's departure. As reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, this marked the first attack claimed by ISIS on the new government since Assad's 54-year reign came to an end in December.
The attack occurred on May 22 in the southern province of Sweida, as ISIS detonated a bomb on a government-owned vehicle in the desert. The incident resulted in one civilian fatality and three wounded soldiers. It's worth noting that ISIS also claimed a bomb attack earlier in the week, targeting members of the Free Syrian Army, a group backed by the United States, killing one fighter and wounding three.
Syria's new regime, headed by President Ahmad al Sharaa, anticipates opposition from ISIS, who brutally oppose Sharaa, who once helmed al Qaeda's Syria branch and fought against the Islamic State. In January, intelligence officials managed to thwart an ISIS plan to detonate a bomb at a Shia Muslim shrine south of Damascus, demonstrating the group's ongoing presence and intent to disrupt.
Since the near-total defeat of ISIS in Syria by US- backed and Kurdish- led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in 2019, the group has operated sporadically through small cells, carrying out deadly attacks. The US Central Command estimates that about 2,500 ISIS fighters are still at large in both Iraq and Syria, indicating a persistent threat.
One such attempt to combat this threat came in March, when US forces declared they had killed Abu Khadija, ISIS's latest leader, in both Iraq and Syria. The group often uses instability and regional chaos to their advantage, leveraging the ongoing fragmentation among rebels and neighboring countries, as well as Israel's drone strikes in southern Syria, to further their insidious aims.
Iran remains a key player in the region, with intelligence officials working tirelessly to monitor ISIS activities and prevent potential attacks. In this tumultuous landscape, it is crucial to stay informed and vigilant to ensure the safety and security of the citizens of Syria and the wider Middle East. Keep watching this space for updates on the ongoing struggle against terrorism in the region.
- Amidst the ongoing political shifts and war-and-conflicts in the Middle East, the new Syrian regime, under President Ahmad al Sharaa, grapples with the resurgence of ISIS, who vehemently oppose him, as they continue to carry out sporadic attacks despite being nearly defeated in 2019.
- As Iran actively monitors ISIS activities and works to prevent potential attacks, the general news context remains critical, with sanctions and politics fueling the instability in the region, providing ISIS with opportunities to further their insidious aims.
