Kurdish SDF Fighter Killed, Another Injured in ISIS Attack eastern Syria
By Kardo Roj
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – A fighter from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) lost his life and another was injured on Monday following an attack carried out by a suspected Islamic State (ISIS) cell in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, the SDF confirmed in an official statement.
The attack occurred in the town of al-Bahrah, within the Hajin subdistrict, a region long plagued by clandestine militant activity despite the territorial defeat of ISIS in 2019.
According to the SDF, members of a “terrorist cell affiliated with ISIS” targeted a military post belonging to their forces early Monday. The assailants opened fire, resulting in the death of one SDF fighter and the wounding of another.
In its statement, the SDF underscored that the repeated assaults by ISIS-affiliated cells illustrate the persistent challenges faced by local security forces in safeguarding the region. “These ongoing attacks highlight the significance of our struggle and efforts to eradicate terrorism and maintain stability in northeast Syria,” the statement read.
Despite its loss of territorial control, ISIS continues to operate through covert cells in various areas of northeast Syria, particularly in Deir ez-Zor and parts of Raqqa. These cells frequently target SDF checkpoints, patrols, and local administrative bodies affiliated with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
Security analysts note that such attacks are often designed to destabilize governance structures and deter civilian cooperation with local authorities. The eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, with its complex tribal makeup and proximity to porous desert routes, remains a focal point for ISIS’s efforts to regroup.
The SDF, backed by the U.S.-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, has launched several counterterrorism operations in the region aimed at dismantling these sleeper cells. In recent months, SDF units have uncovered weapons caches, arrested suspected militants, and thwarted planned attacks in joint operations with Coalition forces.
While these efforts have yielded some results, Monday’s attack underscores the enduring capacity of ISIS to inflict damage through asymmetrical warfare.