BEIRUT (AP) – The Islamic State (IS) group has recently claimed responsibility for two significant attacks in southern Syria, marking a notable escalation in violence against government forces since the downfall of Bashar Assad's regime. According to an opposition war monitor, this represents the first attack claimed by IS against the Syrian army since the conclusion of Assad's long-standing rule.
In a series of statements released late Thursday, IS reported that the first attack involved a bomb detonated against a “vehicle of the apostate regime,” resulting in seven soldiers either dead or wounded. This incident allegedly took place on May 22 in the al-Safa region within the southern province of Sweida, an area characterized by its arid desert landscape.
The second attack mentioned by IS occurred later that same week in a nearby area, wherein a bomb targeted members of the U.S.-backed Free Syrian Army. IS has claimed this strike resulted in the death of one fighter and injuries to three others. As of now, there has been no official comment from the Syrian government regarding these claims, nor has there been a response from a spokesperson for the Free Syrian Army.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, reported that the attack against government forces resulted in one civilian fatality and injuries to three soldiers. This attack was described as unprecedented, marking IS's first assault on Syrian forces since the collapse of the Assad family's 54-year reign in December 2022.
The Islamic State, which once held significant territories across Syria and Iraq, has expressed opposition to the new authority in Damascus led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Al-Sharaa previously headed al-Qaida's branch in Syria and fought against IS in combat. The group has recently ramped up its operations, claiming responsibility for various attacks aimed primarily at the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which are backed by the United States, particularly in northeastern parts of Syria.
As of March 2019, IS was declared defeated in Syria when SDF fighters captured the last remnants of territory held by the extremists. However, since that time, hidden sleeper cells have been responsible for conducting multiple deadly attacks, primarily focused in eastern and northeastern Syria, demonstrating IS’s ongoing ability to orchestrate violence in the region.
In a related context, state media reported in January that Syrian intelligence officials foiled an IS-sponsored plan aimed at detonating a bomb at a Shiite Muslim shrine located south of Damascus. This highlights the continued threat posed by the group despite significant territorial losses.
In concurrent geopolitical developments, Ahmad al-Sharaa met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Saudi Arabia earlier this month. Following their meeting, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that Trump urged al-Sharaa to formally recognize Israel, to ensure that all foreign terrorists exit Syria, and to assist the U.S. in preventing any resurgence of the Islamic State group in the region.
The resurgence of violence and the claims of responsibility by IS reveal the precarious nature of stability in southern Syria and the ongoing implications for regional security and governance in the wake of regime changes and internal conflicts.
