ISIS carries out 2 attacks in Deir ez-Zor
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Militants of the Islamic State (ISIS) targeted on Friday an oil investor and an employee of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) in two separate attacks in Deir ez-Zor Governorate in eastern Syria.
An eyewitness told North Press that ISIS militants attacked Aiham al-Salem, an oil well investor, with two bombs and machine gun in his house in the town of Diban in the southeast of Deir ez-Zor.
According to the witness, the attack resulted in only material damage.
The witness added that al-Salem had been previously threatened by ISIS for refusing to pay zakat to the group.
On July 17, CENTCOM stated that ISIS is trying to re-establish itself after several years of “decreased capability.”
Despite the group’s diminished control on the ground in eastern Syria, they are still forcing businesses to pay zakat with active cells operating in the area.
Meanwhile, ISIS militants attacked Omar al-Malishan, an employee in the AANES’ Fuel Office, in his house in the village of Burayha.
The damage was limited to material losses, and according to al-Malishan’s relatives, the militants fled after he fired back at them.
One of his relatives told North Press that the reason for the attack was because he refused to pay zakat to the group.
U.S. statistics indicated that ISIS is on track to conduct more than double the total number of attacks it claimed responsibility for in 2023.
CENTCOM pointed out ISIS claimed responsibility for 153 attacks in Syria and Iraq, adding, “At this rate, ISIS is on pace to more than double the total number of attacks they claimed in 2023.”