Suspected ISIS Attack Leaves Over 20 Soldiers Dead in Eastern Syria
In a devastating attack, suspected Islamic State (IS) terrorists targeted a bus carrying soldiers in the Deir al-Zour province of eastern Syria. The attack, which took place in the restive southeastern part of the province, resulted in the tragic loss of over 20 lives, with several individuals also sustaining injuries. State media, as well as the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a Britain-based war monitor group, reported on the incident.
This assault comes just two days after another IS attack in the nearby province of Raqqa, the former de facto capital of the terror group in Syria. Local news reports indicate that at least 10 Syrian troops lost their lives during that attack. Despite significant territorial losses in Syria and Iraq, IS continues to carry out sporadic attacks in both countries.
Rami Abdulrahman, director of SOHR, sheds light on the recent spike in violence by IS in eastern Syria. He attributes this escalation to the group’s ability to recruit informants within government-held areas. Abdulrahman explains that the deteriorating economic conditions in these regions, particularly in eastern Syria, have enabled IS to recruit locals who provide intelligence and coordinates about government military positions. This new tactic poses a fresh challenge in the fight against the terrorist organization.
The Deir al-Zour and Raqqa provinces are controlled by not only Syrian government troops and their allies but also US-backed Kurdish-led forces. Consequently, these areas have become targets for IS militants. In an effort to combat the group’s activities, the US-led Global Coalition against IS conducted 11 partnered operations in July, leading to the elimination of three IS operatives and the arrest of six others. Major General Matthew McFarlane, the commander of the US-led Combined Joint Task Force, expressed gratitude for the efforts of the coalition-supported partners and highlighted the significant decrease in ISIS activity in their operational area.
Colin Clarke, a senior research fellow at the New York-based Soufan Center, emphasizes that despite targeted strikes against IS leadership, the group still poses a persistent threat. Having developed an insurgent infrastructure over the past decade, dismantling it proves to be an arduous task. Clarke suggests that low-level insurgencies periodically erupting in certain areas outside of regime control may become an unfortunate reality for Syria.
As Syria continues to grapple with intermittent violence from IS, it is crucial to explore comprehensive strategies to combat and mitigate the threat. Efforts need to address underlying issues such as economic instability and recruitment tactics to prevent further attacks and protect both civilians and security forces.
