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Syria's Battle Against ISIS

Syria warns of ISIS resurgence after thwarted shrine bombing

Syria remains on high alert as it continues to struggle with instability in the aftermath of years of conflict. In a recent operation, Syrian intelligence successfully thwarted an attempted bombing of the Sayyida Zeinab shrine, a significant Shia pilgrimage site located in the southern suburbs of Damascus. The attack, believed to be orchestrated by ISIS, could have caused widespread devastation had it succeeded.

The Iraq-ISIS war in 2018
Photo: Sebastian Castelier/Shutterstock

According to Syrian intelligence officials, the General Intelligence Directorate (GID) mobilized all its resources to prevent any attacks targeting Syria’s diverse population. During the raid outside Damascus, authorities uncovered two rifles, three explosive devices, and several hand grenades. Four suspects, including two Lebanese nationals and a Palestinian refugee residing in Lebanon, were arrested.

The Sayyida Zeinab shrine, a site that holds the tomb of the granddaughter of Prophet Muhammad, has long been a target for extremist groups, particularly ISIS. Previous attacks in 2016 resulted in the deaths of 134 and 70 people, while a bombing near the shrine in July 2023 killed six individuals, according to JBN reports.

Despite these efforts, ISIS continues to pose a significant threat to Syria’s stability. Sources from the Pentagon, speaking to the Washington Post, reveal that ISIS is actively rebuilding its forces in Syria's desert regions, training new recruits, and intensifying its operations. Over the past year, the group has launched numerous raids, car bombings, and prison breaks, signaling its ambition to revive its self-declared caliphate.

Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime on December 8, ISIS has focused its violent campaign on areas controlled by the U.S.-backed Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). However, with its growing presence and capability to move through Syria’s fractured landscape, there are increasing concerns that ISIS could expand its reach into new regions, further complicating the country’s fragile security situation.


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