ISIS strikes back in Syria with deadly bombings against government forces, marking its first attacks since President Assad’s fall and signaling a troubling resurgence in the war-torn nation.
Key Takeaways
- ISIS has claimed responsibility for two bomb attacks in Syria’s Sweida Province, killing and wounding multiple Syrian soldiers
- These attacks represent ISIS’s first direct targeting of Syrian government forces since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime
- Despite territorial defeat in 2019, ISIS maintains active sleeper cells in central and eastern Syrian deserts
- The bombings occurred in Sweida Province, an area controlled by the Druse minority where recent sectarian clashes have resulted in over 100 deaths
- The attacks suggest ISIS is attempting to exploit Syria’s power vacuum following governmental changes to reassert its influence
ISIS Resurfaces in Post-Assad Syria
The Islamic State (ISIS) has launched its first direct attacks against Syria’s new government, planting explosive devices that targeted military personnel in southern Syria’s Sweida Province. According to multiple reports, the terrorist organization claimed responsibility for two separate bombings that occurred on consecutive days last week. In a statement, ISIS claimed it had targeted a “vehicle of the apostate regime” in the al-Safa desert region of Sweida province, reportedly killing or wounding seven Syrian soldiers. The timing of these attacks is significant as they represent the first direct targeting of Syrian government forces since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December.
“vehicle of the apostate regime,” stated ISIL.
The Syrian government has notably refrained from reporting these ISIS attacks, instead focusing on publicizing its own raids against ISIS operatives in Damascus. This silence may reflect the new government’s reluctance to acknowledge security vulnerabilities as it attempts to establish authority. President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who was appointed in January following Assad’s fall, has pledged to hold elections after a new constitution is established, a process expected to take approximately four years. The government’s tenuous grip on power appears to have created opportunities for ISIS to reassert itself.
Details of the Attacks Reveal Strategic Targeting
Reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights indicate that the first attack on Wednesday targeted a Syrian Army reconnaissance group in the desert area, wounding members of the 70th Division and killing an assistant. ISIS reportedly used a remote-controlled land mine for this attack. The second bombing occurred the following day in the Talul al Safa area, with ISIS claiming it killed and wounded seven soldiers. Both attacks were executed in a mountainous desert region where ISIS has maintained a presence for years, despite being largely inactive in Sweida Province for nearly a decade.
“The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for two bomb explosions in Syria, the first time the extremist group has directly targeted the new government since it took over in December, a war monitoring group said,” said a war monitoring group.
In addition to targeting government forces, ISIS claimed responsibility for a separate bomb attack against the U.S.-backed Free Syrian Army, resulting in one death and three injuries. The United States continues to support the Free Syrian Army, which operates in the nearby al Tanf Deconfliction Zone. These coordinated attacks against both government and opposition forces suggest ISIS is attempting to exploit divisions between competing powers in the region, a familiar tactic from its earlier rise to prominence during Syria’s civil war.
Complex Regional Dynamics Fuel ISIS Resurgence
Sweida Province represents a particularly volatile location for these attacks. The area is effectively controlled by the Druse minority and has recently experienced sectarian violence resulting in over 100 deaths. The new Syrian government, which replaced al-Assad’s regime, had past ties to al-Qaeda but reportedly severed them nearly a decade ago. President Trump recently lifted sanctions on Syria and met with transitional leader President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh, signaling potential shifts in U.S. policy toward the new government.
While ISIS was territorially defeated in Syria in 2019, the group has maintained a low-level insurgency in eastern Syria. Security experts have noted increased ISIS activity since Assad’s fall, including plotting attacks in Damascus and claiming responsibility for bombings in eastern Syria. These recent attacks in Sweida suggest the group is strategically expanding its operations to exploit weakening state control and shifting alliances. The timing appears deliberate, as the new government struggles to establish legitimacy while managing complex ethnic and sectarian tensions throughout the country.
Implications for Regional Stability
The resurgence of ISIS activity poses significant challenges for Syria’s stability and the new government’s authority. By targeting both government forces and U.S.-backed opposition groups, ISIS appears to be attempting to position itself as a third force in the ongoing Syrian conflict. The attacks demonstrate that despite years of military operations against the group, ISIS retains operational capabilities and continues to pose a serious security threat. The situation is particularly concerning given Syria’s fractured political landscape and the reduced international military presence focused on counter-terrorism operations.
For the Biden administration, these developments present difficult questions about U.S. involvement in Syria. While President Trump has moved toward normalization with Syria’s new government, ongoing ISIS attacks could necessitate continued or even expanded military operations in the region. The situation also highlights the persistent challenge of extremist ideologies that continue to find fertile ground in areas with weak governance and sectarian divisions. As Syria attempts to chart a new political course, the shadow of ISIS terrorism threatens to undermine progress toward stability and peace.
