Title: ISIS Militants Kill 33 Syrian Soldiers in Eastern Syria Attack
Date: 11 August 2023
Updated: 25 minutes ago
Image source: Getty Images
In a devastating attack attributed to Islamic State (IS) militants, at least 33 Syrian soldiers lost their lives in eastern Syria, according to reports. The incident took place in the Deir al-Zour province, where jihadists allegedly encircled a military bus and opened fire. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the casualties while stating that over 10 soldiers sustained injuries, with numerous others reported missing.
Regarded as the deadliest act of violence this year by IS militants, the assailants targeted the military bus in the steppe desert on the road from the T2 pumping station, a former stronghold of IS which was captured by the Syrian army in 2017. In response to the attack, a military source quoted by the Sana news agency described the perpetrators as a “terrorist” group, highlighting the death and injury toll among army personnel.
Only days before, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported another IS attack in the former jihadist stronghold of Raqqa province, which resulted in the deaths of 10 Syrian soldiers and pro-government fighters. Additionally, other regions, such as Raqqa and Hama, have witnessed similar IS assaults, including the documented killing of 43 individuals, including government forces.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights revealed a notable increase in IS attacks throughout northern and northeastern Syria since the beginning of August. It characterized the uptick in activities as the “most violent” escalation since the group’s geographical elimination. Once controlling an expansive territory of 88,000 sq km (34,000 sq miles) stretching from northeastern Syria to northern Iraq, IS lost significant ground starting in 2019 when it was dislodged from its final stronghold.
Despite these defeats, the United Nations has emphasized that IS remains a persistent threat. The group’s militants continue to carry out ambushes and hit-and-run attacks from hideouts within the Syrian desert. Though geographically diminished, the organization still poses a significant danger according to global security experts, necessitating sustained efforts to counter its activities.