As ISIS continues to pose a growing threat in Syria, US forces, in collaboration with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), have increased their military operations to curb the extremist group’s resurgence. These efforts come amid increasing security tensions in northeastern Syria, where ISIS has been regrouping and attempting to reassert its influence.
According to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal, the renewed focus on ISIS in Syria highlights the complex and ongoing challenges faced by the international coalition. Despite the group’s “defeat” five years ago, ISIS fighters have been stepping up attacks in both Syria and Iraq. These attacks include assaults on security checkpoints, car bombings, and attempts to free imprisoned members. The uptick in activity has sparked concerns about a potential ISIS revival.
According to recent reports, US forces have been actively supporting the SDF with airstrikes, surveillance, and raids targeting ISIS cells. These operations, however, have not garnered widespread media attention. Rohilat Afrin, co-commander of the SDF, noted that this year has been particularly challenging, with 153 ISIS attacks reported in the first half of the year alone. “No matter how defeated they are, they will try to rise again,” Afrin said.
The resurgence of ISIS presents a different kind of threat compared to the group’s peak when large-scale assaults were common. Today, ISIS operates in smaller, more covert cells, using guerrilla tactics such as ambushes and improvised explosive devices. Despite this shift, the group’s ability to recruit and mobilize fighters, particularly from camps housing the families of detained ISIS members, remains a significant concern.
The US and its allies have responded with a series of targeted operations. In July, the SDF, supported by US forces, carried out a significant raid on ISIS compounds in northeastern Syria. The meticulously planned operation, involving more than 100 SDF soldiers, aimed to dismantle ISIS cells spread over a 10-mile area. US drones and Apache helicopters provided critical aerial support, ensuring the mission’s success.
Regional actors in Syria’s liberated northern areas are also actively combating a resurgent ISIS. On Monday, the General Security Directorate of the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) in Idlib conducted a raid in the Deir Hassan region, targeting a group suspected of ISIS affiliations. The operation resulted in the deaths of three suspected ISIS members, the injury of another, and the arrest of three more.
Major Izzauddin Muhammad al-Ghazali, Director of the Security Directorate in the Northern Region, emphasized the determination of local forces to maintain security in liberated areas. “We will not tolerate any cell or group that attempts to undermine the security of northern Syria,” al-Ghazali stated.
Yesterday’s operation targeted a former leader of the Guardians of Religion faction, accused of leading a criminal cell involved in various activities in the Idlib and Azaz regions. In May of this year, the security forces arrested several members of a suspected ISIS cell believed to have been responsible for the April assassination of prominent HTS leader Abu Maria al-Qahtani. April also saw anti-ISIS operations conducted by members of the Syrian National Army (SNA) in close cooperation with Turkish intelligence (MiT).
The anti-ISIS operations in northern Syria underscore the ongoing volatility in the region. While the group no longer controls large territories, its persistent attempts to regroup and launch attacks present a continuous threat. To date approximately 9,000 ISIS fighters remain in prisons across northeastern Syria further complicating the security landscape.
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