Woman and companion killed in ISIS attack in Deir ez-Zor
DEIR EZ- ZOR, Syria (North Press) – A woman and another person were killed on Saturday in an attack by ISIS cells in eastern Deir ez-Zor, northeast Syria.
A local source in al-Dhiban town told North Press that armed individuals riding a motorcycle opened fire with a machine gun on a vehicle belonging to Abu Sanad, a resident of al-Dhiban, as he was leaving the nearby town of al-Hawayij.
The attack resulted in the deaths of Fatima al-Olusi and Abu Sanad, according to the source, while the attackers fled the area.
The source added that the assault targeted Fatima al-Olusi, who worked as a hairdresser at a women’s salon, and had previously received threats via WhatsApp from ISIS to shut down her salon. She had refused to comply.
In August, ISIS cells reportedly attacked the salon three times with direct gunfire, the source said, underscoring the ongoing threats posed by the group in rural eastern Deir Ezzor despite counterterrorism efforts.
The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), backed by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has maintained ongoing security operations in the region to counter ISIS remnants, which persist in carrying out sporadic attacks.
ISIS cells have continued to target civilians and local facilities in eastern Syria, exploiting desert terrain and gaps in security coverage, particularly in rural areas. The attack on Saturday is the latest in a series of incidents that highlight persistent security challenges in Deir ez-Zor countryside.