ISIS claims responsibility for 2 attacks against SDF, Iraqi army
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – On Monday, the Islamic State terrorist group (ISIS) claimed responsibility for two separate attacks against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Iraqi army.
The ISIS-run Amaq news agency said in a statement that the group’s militants targeted with machineguns an SDF checkpoint near the entrance of the town of al-Hawaij in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria.
According to the statement, the attack resulted in the injury of two SDF fighters. The SDF is yet to comment on the incident.
In another statement released by the same agency, ISIS militants attacked with light and medium weapons a military vehicle of the Iraqi army near the Akashat – Rutba road in western al-Anbar in Iraq.
The attack caused the injury of several members of the Iraqi army and material damage to their vehicle.
Syria and Iraq witness intensified ISIS activity despite security operations against its sleeper cells.
In the past week, ISIS has claimed responsibility for three attacks against the Iraqi army and one against the SDF.
ISIS lost its final stronghold in Syria in March 2019. The SDF, with the support of the US-led Global Coalition, defeated ISIS after fierce battles in the town of Baghouz in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, bringing an end to the so-called caliphate declared by the terrorist ISIS.
The countryside of Deir ez-Zor witnesses an increase in cases of assassination, targeting members of the SDF, employees of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), tribal leaders and civilians, despite the intensive security operations launched by the SDF.