Skip to main content

ISIS takes advantage of Israel-Iran spiral to mount resurgence in Syria

Amid the relocation of Iranian-backed forces due to Israeli and US airstrikes and the lack of coordination between the SDF and Damascus, ISIS has intensified its operations, clawing back parts of the vital highway separating Raqqa and Deir Ezzor.

JARABLUS, SYRIA - AUGUST 31: A member of the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) stand guarded in front of a ISIS flag in the border town of Jarablus, August 31, 2016, Syria. Turkish troops and Turkey-backed rebels have been fighting Kurdish-led forces and IS since Turkey's incursion into Syria on Aug. 24. with the swift capture of Jarablus, a town a few km inside Syria that was held by Islamic State.(Photo by Defne Karadeniz/Getty Images)
JARABLUS, SYRIA - AUGUST 31: A member of the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) stand guarded in front of a ISIS flag in the border town of Jarablus, August 31, 2016, Syria. — Defne Karadeniz/Getty Images

DAMASCUS — The eastern region of Syria is facing an alarming surge in Islamic State (ISIS) guerilla attacks, bombings and stealthy night raids against the Syrian military and Kurdish-Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The last four months saw over a hundred attacks, sparking fears that the terror group is now regrouping and becoming more aggressive in its combat activities.  

Taking advantage of the growing instability in the region and the unprecedented Iran-Israel military confrontation, ISIS is progressively employing hit-and-run tactics to devastating effect, as it exploits the international focus on Iran-Israel tension and the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza to reassert control in the "Baddiya," or Syrian Desert.

Amid the relocation of Iranian-backed forces due to Israeli and US airstrikes and the lack of coordination between the SDF and Damascus, ISIS has been able to take parts of the vital highway separating Raqqa and Deir Ezzor.

ISIS activity surges

Subscribe for unlimited access

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more

$14 monthly or $100 annually ($8.33/month)
OR

Continue reading this article for free

Access 1 free article per month when you sign up. Learn more.

By signing up, you agree to Al-Monitor’s Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Already have an account? Log in

Related Topics