ISIS Claims First Attack on New Syrian Government Forces in Sweida
By Kardo Roj
SWEIDA, Syria (North Press) – The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for its first attack against forces of Syria’s new government, marking a grim reminder of the group’s ongoing insurgent threat despite territorial defeat. The incident occurred in the southern province of Sweida earlier this week, according to SITE Intelligence Group.
The group said its fighters detonated a roadside explosive device targeting a military patrol from the newly formed Syrian Army’s 70th Division. The blast reportedly killed one soldier and injured three others. The ambush took place on Wednesday and was later confirmed by Syrian government sources.
This marks the first operation ISIS has officially claimed against the transitional government that came to power after former president Bashar al-Assad fled the country in December 2024 amid internal unrest and growing international pressure.
While ISIS was territorially defeated in Syria in 2019 following major operations led by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) with support from the U.S.-led Global Coalition, the group has maintained a low-level insurgency in both government- and opposition-held areas, carrying out sporadic bombings, ambushes, and assassinations.
Although ISIS has regularly targeted SDF personnel and infrastructure in northeastern Syria, attacks in government-controlled southern regions, such as Sweida, have been infrequent. Thursday’s claim represents a potential shift in operational focus as the group attempts to test the capacity of Syria’s newly established security apparatus.
Earlier this week, Syrian authorities reported the arrest of an ISIS-affiliated sleeper cell near Damascus, accusing its members of planning coordinated attacks in urban areas. Additionally, in a separate operation in Aleppo this month, Syrian General Security forces reportedly killed three ISIS members during a raid that also resulted in the death of one officer.
These developments coincide with increased international engagement with the new Syrian leadership. On Thursday, U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack joined Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani in reopening the American embassy in Damascus for the first time since its closure in 2012.
Following a recent summit in Riyadh with interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Syrian authorities to intensify counterterrorism cooperation. According to a White House statement, Trump emphasized that preventing an ISIS resurgence remains a key priority.
Despite the attack in Sweida, large swaths of northeast Syria—administered by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and secured by the SDF—have seen relative stability. SDF-led operations against ISIS cells in Deir ez-Zor and Hasakah continue with international support, focusing on dismantling remaining sleeper networks and ensuring regional security.
Further security measures are expected in southern Syria as authorities assess the implications of the Sweida attack.