The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for two attacks in southern Syria, including a deadly assault on government forces that marked the first time the extremists had targeted the Syrian army since President Bashar Assad’s fall from power. The attack, which occurred last Thursday, May 22, in the al-Safa area, killed seven soldiers and wounded others.
In another statement, IS claimed to have attacked members of the US-backed Free Syrian Army, killing one fighter and wounding three. There was no comment from the government on the claims.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the attack, saying it was the first such assault by IS against Syrian forces since Assad’s rule ended in December. IS has been opposed to the new authority in Damascus led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who once fought battles against the group.
This marks the latest in a series of attacks by IS sleeper cells, which have carried out deadly assaults mainly in eastern and northeast Syria since the group was defeated in March 2019.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/syria-islamic-state-group-attacks-al-sharaa-ab2c535d52a0ce188b5e0346e572890c