ISIS Claims First Attack on Syria's New Government
The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for its first attack targeting Syria’s new government forces since the ousting of former president Bashar al-Assad.
Details of the Attack
In a statement, IS said it planted an "explosive device" on a Syrian military vehicle in Sweida province, located in southern Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) confirmed the incident, noting it was the first IS-claimed attack on the new Syrian government.
The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, involved a remote-controlled landmine that struck a patrol from the Syrian army’s 70th division. One man accompanying government troops was killed, and three soldiers were wounded.
IS Presence and Recent Activity
Despite being territorially defeated in 2019, IS continues to operate in Syria’s central desert regions. Recent attacks have largely focused on Kurdish-led forces in the northeast, but tensions with the new Islamist-backed government, which replaced Assad in December, are increasing.
Syrian authorities recently dismantled an IS cell near Damascus, alleging the members were preparing to launch attacks. In a separate operation in Aleppo earlier this month, three IS fighters and a government security officer were killed.
International Response
The resurgence in IS activity has garnered international attention. During a recent meeting in Riyadh, US President Donald Trump urged Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to help prevent the resurgence of IS.