ISIS claims attack on SDF patrol in eastern Deir ez-Zor
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility on Friday for an attack targeting a patrol belonging to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria.
ISIS-affiliated Amaq News Agency published a statement saying that “fighters of the organization targeted, with machine guns, an SDF military patrol in the town of al-Hawaij in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor.”
The statement added that the attack resulted in the injury of two SDF members and damage to two military vehicles, noting that the attackers “returned to their positions unharmed.”
Local sources told North Press that SDF units quickly reinforced the area following the incident and initiated a search operation in the vicinity of al-Hawaij to track the assailants. The eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor has seen repeated ISIS attempts to destabilize the region, particularly in areas where the SDF continues operations aimed at dismantling sleeper cells.
In a related development, al-Naba newspaper—also linked to ISIS—published its weekly summary of attacks in Syria, in which the group claimed two operations against SDF forces in Deir ez-Zor this week.
The SDF, backed by the US-led Global Coalition, continues to secure the region and counter ISIS remnants through patrols, intelligence-gathering operations, and coordination with local security structures established under the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). Despite recurring ISIS claims, the overall security situation in much of Deir ez-Zor’s eastern countryside has witnessed notable improvements due to ongoing counterterrorism efforts.