Photo By: Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Sources have reported that the death toll of the recent operation of “ISIS” in the Syrian desert increased to 33 regime soldiers, who were killed in the most violent attack carried out by “ISIS” against them since the beginning of 2023, which targeted at least one military bus within Al-Mayadeen desert on Deir Ezzor-Homs road. The death toll is likely to increase due to the presence of injured people, some of whom are in serious condition, while two buses and the passengers of the third bus were survived from the bloody “ISIS” attack.
According to SOHR statistics, the number of fatalities in military operations in the Syrian desert since early 2023 has increased to 412; and they are as follows:
- 20 ISIS members were killed in clashes with regime forces and Russian airstrikes on ISIS hideouts in the deserts of Homs, Al-Suwaidaa, Hama, Al-Raqqah, Deir Ezzor and Aleppo.
- 235 members of regime forces and their proxy militias, including 37 Iranian-backed Syrian and non-Syrian militiamen, were killed in 106 operations by ISIS members, including ambushes, armed attacks, and explosions, in west Euphrates region and the deserts of Deir Ezzor, Al-Raqqah, Homs, Al-Suwaidaa, Hama and Aleppo.
ISIS cells kill 41 regime soldiers and two civilians in four attacks in the Syrian desert in August
Since early August 2023, the Syrian desert has experienced successive developments regarding the military actions in that region, where activities and operations by ISIS cells in the desert have noticeably increased.
During this period, SOHR activists have documented the death of 43 persons: 41 regime soldiers and two oil truck drivers, and injury of 17 others in four attacks by ISIS in Deir Ezzor, Al-Raqqah and Hama provinces. ISIS most violent attack in August was documented in Al-Mayadeen desert in eastern Deir Ezzor.
Here are further details on ISIS attacks in the Syrian desert since early August:
August 1: Seven people: five regime soldiers and two of the tanks drivers, were killed in the armed attack carried out by “ISIS” gunmen, targeting a convoy included a number of oil tanks on Al-Raqqah-Al-Salamiyah road in the eastern countryside of Hama, where the attackers used machineguns and RPG shells.
August 2: Armed clashes erupted between members of NDF and a group of “ISIS” cells, on the frontline of Qaws Ma’dan, within regime-held areas in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor, following an attack carried out by “ISIS” cells, where the clashed extended to the depth of the Syrian desert.
August 8: ISIS members attacked positions of regime forces and their proxy local groups in Ma’dan Ateeq town in the eastern countryside of Al-Raqqah, targeting military vehicles and prefabricated caravans, as well as Al-Qaws checkpoint in the town, where ISIS members imposed their control on those positions. According to SOHR sources, ten regime soldiers were killed, and the number is likely to increase due to the presence of six injured persons, some of whom are in a serious situation, in addition to information about other deads.
August 10: Violent armed clashes erupted between regime forces and “ISIS cells, in Al-Bokamal desert, within areas held by regime forces and militias affiliated with them, in the desert of the western countryside of Deir Ezzor, in a security campaign by regime forces, amid information about killed and injured people.