ISIS claims deadly attack in Deir ez-Zor countryside
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Islamic State (ISIS) group claimed on Thursday responsibility for an attack that killed one member of the Syrian government forces and injured another in the countryside of Deir ez-Zor, according to the group’s affiliated Amaq News Agency.
Amaq said the operation was carried out on Wednesday in the town of Raghib, located in eastern Deir ez-Zor. The agency did not provide further operational details. Reuters, citing a security source, reported that the two targeted individuals were brothers.
The incident marks the fourth attack claimed by ISIS against Syrian government forces since the beginning of 2025, following previously announced operations in Suwayda, Aleppo, and Idlib provinces. The group also claimed responsibility for a bombing that targeted the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque in Homs, which resulted in eight deaths and 18 injuries, according to earlier reports.
cells have continued to operate in parts of eastern Syria despite ongoing security campaigns aimed at dismantling the group’s networks. The eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor has witnessed repeated security incidents in recent months, reflecting persistent threats posed by sleeper cells seeking to exploit security gaps.
In a related development, the US military announced on February 13 the completion of the transfer of 5,700 ISIS detainees from prisons in Syria to Iraq. The move followed the Syrian government’s control over wide areas in northeastern Syria that included camps and detention facilities previously holding ISIS fighters, according to the announcement.
Security officials have warned that the continued activity of ISIS cells underscores the importance of sustained counterterrorism measures and coordination among local and international actors to limit the group’s operational capacity.