ALEPPO — A resilient Islamic State (IS) has become
increasingly active over the past few weeks in eastern Syria, especially in the
desert in the south and Kurdish areas in the north.
IS militants have launched attacks against Syrian regime
forces and their allied militias, while also targeting the Kurdish-led Syrian
Democratic Forces to a lesser extent. These attacks point to IS’ ability to
restructure cells and carry out large-scale operations.
IS is likely to carry on its attacks, explosions and
executions, especially in the eastern desert of the central province of Homs
and the desert in eastern Deir ez-Zor. IS is taking advantage of the world’s
and Syria’s preoccupation with the coronavirus crisis and the measures imposed
to stem the spread of the coronavirus, including curfews and quarantines.
On April 9, IS targeted a regime convoy and military posts
in the Homs desert. Russian aircraft launched a series of air raids against IS
positions there. The clashes and airstrikes killed 18 regime fighters and
allied gunmen, and 11 IS militants, according to the Syrian Observatory for
Human Rights.
A military source close to the Syrian regime confirmed the
battle, telling Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, “IS attacked Syrian regime
positions near Al-Sukhna April 9 at dawn. The town is part of the Syrian desert
where IS has been very active lately.”
The source added, “IS has various weapons, including heavy
machine guns, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades, which they most probably
obtained from the regime forces' warehouses and positions they previously
attacked.” The source explained, “IS started the attack [April 9] with a car
bomb, and violent clashes ensued between the two sides where machine guns were
used … amid heavy artillery shelling and airstrikes by the Syrian regime
forces.”
Meanwhile, IS reportedly kidnapped six shepherds in Raqqa’s
countryside April 5; attacked regime positions in the towns of al-Jalaa,
al-Abbas and al-Sayyal in eastern Deir ez-Zor, and killed a woman there April 6
for allegedly collaborating with regime forces; and killed two members of the
pro-regime National Defense Forces, also in eastern Deir ez-Zor, on April 7,
the same day members of Liwa al-Quds, a pro-regime militia, were killed there
by a landmine.
All told, the observatory reported, “Between March 24 and
April 9, more than 401 members of the regime forces and pro-regime militias,
Syrians and non-Syrians, were killed" in IS operations.
Opposition forces continue to claim that Iran is determined
to resurrect the once-powerful and still-brutal group.
“Iran has a great deal of interest in IS resuming its
activities. We warn the international community that Iran could revive this
terrorist organization," Mustafa Sejari, director of the political bureau
of the opposition's Free Syrian Army (FSA) Mutasim Brigade, told Al-Monitor
recently. "Our reports confirm that the [new] Iranian Quds Force
commander, Ismail Qaani, is working to revitalize the terrorist organization in
a bid to preoccupy the US and undermine its interests in Syria,” Sejari added.
The United States assassinated the previous Quds Force
commander, Qasem Soleimani, in early January.
On March 31, IS released its so-called Attrition Saga, which
documents a number of recent IS operations. It depicts IS members moving easily
around in the desert and shows that they have medium-size weapons and anti-tank
missiles.
Yahya Mayo, media coordinator of the Turkish-backed FSA,
told Al-Monitor, “IS’ latest video delivers multiple messages, most importantly
that it opted for guerrilla warfare and ambushes to drain its adversaries. It
also shows its ability to move freely in the Syrian desert, which serves as
open space for resuming activities that deal painful blows [to the regime]
using few members safely moving on secondary roads.”
Mayo added, “The recent video also shows that IS is keen on
highlighting the usual violence and intimidation it pursues against the so-called
collaborators of its foes.”
Source: al-Monitor
– 12 April 2020
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