Islamic State Claims First Attacks on New Syrian Government

In a significant escalation, the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for two bomb attacks targeting government forces in southern Syria. This marks the first direct attack on the new regime since it assumed power in December. The incidents raise concerns over security in the region amidst ongoing sectarian violence.

The Islamic State (ISIS) has announced its responsibility for two bomb explosions in Syria, representing the extremist group's inaugural assault against the newly established government since its transition in December. The claims were made through social media statements reported by the SITE Intelligence Group, which highlighted the group’s intent to target government military and militia forces.

Though the Syrian government has not confirmed the attacks, it reported recent raids against ISIS operatives in Damascus. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring organization, one individual died and three soldiers from the Syrian Army's 70th Division were wounded after their patrol encountered a remote-controlled land mine in eastern Sweida Province on Wednesday.

The attacks occurred in an area of southern Syria that has seen minimal ISIS activity for nearly a decade, yet the Syrian government continues to grapple with security issues in the province, which is largely dominated by the Druse minority. This region experienced severe sectarian conflicts recently, with clashes resulting in over 100 fatalities in late April and early May.

Since suffering significant territorial losses, the Islamic State has maintained a low-level insurgency in northeastern Syria since 2019. However, following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December, it has displayed renewed activity, including attempts to plan operations in the capital and claiming responsibility for various attacks, such as a car bomb detonation in eastern Syria.