12 attacks in 2023 | 19 members of regime forces and Iranian-backed militias killed by ISIS

ISIS continues its attacks in different areas under the control of the Syrian regime and its allies in the Syrian desert in Homs, Deir Ezzor and Al-Raqqah. According to SOHR sources, ISIS has carried out 12 attacks since early 2023, killing 19 regime soldiers and proxy militiamen, including 12 Iranian-backed Syrian and non-Syrian militiamen. Meanwhile, ISIS lost one member in those attacks.

 

Here are further details on ISIS attacks in January:

 

• January 4: Two Afghan members of Iran’s “Revolutionary Guards Corps” militia were assassinated yesterday due to the explosion of a landmine planted in a house near the mall designated for “Iranian-backed militias,” in Al-Jama’iah neighbourhood, west of Palmyra.

 

• January 5: Two regime-backed “National Defence” members were severely injured, where one of them had to get his leg amputated, due to the explosion of a landmine of war remnants planted by ISIS cells near Al-Rasafa area south western of Al-Raqqa desert, during combing operations in the Syrian desert.

 

• January 7: A regime soldier was killed and at least four others sustained various injuries in a surprise attack by ISIS cells in Ju’aydeen area in Al-Tabaqah desert in western Al-Raqqah, exploiting the foggy weather.

 

• January 9: ISIS fighters have fired machine-guns at a military outpost of regime forces near Al-Jalaa town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. Clashes erupted between regime forces and ISIS members. These clashes left an ISIS member dead. ISIS members fled to an unknown destination.

 

• January 9: A Syrian member of the local Iran-backed militias was killed in an attack by ISIS cells on military headquarters of Iranian-backed militias in Palmyra city in eastern Homs countryside. The victim hails from Hatla town in northern Deir Ezzor countryside.

 

• January 9: ISIS cells attacked regime positions in Al-Masrib desert in western Deir Ezzor countryside, leading to several casualties among regime forces. Accordingly, members of the “National Defence” mobilized and brought military reinforcements comprising nearly ten vehicles carrying members towards Al-Masrib desert.

 

• January 12: A regime captain died of the injury he has sustained in the explosion of a landmine in a military vehicle in Al-Tanaf area in the 55 kilometre de-confliction zone, near the Syria-Jordan-Iraq border. The man was from Al-Mushayrefah town to the north-east of Homs city. It is worth noting that the 55 kilometre de-confliction zone hosts Al-Tanaf base which was captured by the International Coalition in March 2016.

 

• January 15: A regime soldier was killed in an attack by ISIS cells on positions of the regime in Al-Sokhna desert in Homs countryside.

 

• January 16: A regime soldier was killed in an attack by unknown individuals believed to be of ISIS cells on a regime military post near Al-Madhoul road in Al-Kharitah desert in western Deir Ezzor.

 

• January 17: Four regime soldiers were injured by an IED that was planted by ISIS cells on the road to Al-Thawra oil field in Al-Tabqah desert, west of Al-Raqqah.

 

• January 23: A patrol of the 17th Division of the regime forces found nine bodies of Iranian-backed Afghan Fatimiyoun militiamen. The Afghan “Fatimiyoun” militiamen were found slaughtered and stripped in Al-Masrab desert in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor. Afghan “Fatimiyoun” militiamen are believed to be captured by ISIS cells on January 18 when ISIS cells waged an attack on a patrol of Afghan Fatimiyoun militia.

 

• January 23: Three regime soldiers were killed in an attack by ISIS cells on a guard post around Al-Tabqa military airport, west of Al-Raqqah. ISIS wage this attack to take advantage of foggy weather.

 

According to SOHR statistics, the number of fatalities in military operations in the Syrian desert since early 2022 has increased to 20; and they are as follows:

 

• One ISIS members was 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.

 

• 19 members of regime forces and their proxy militias, including 12 Iranian-backed Syrian and non-Syrian militiamen, were killed in eight 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.

 

• One civilians was killed in attacks by ISIS in the Syrian desert.

 

Here is a regional distribution of those attacks:

 

• Homs desert: Four operations which left five combatants dead, including three Iranian-backed militias.

 

• Al-Raqqah desert: Four operations which left four regime soldiers dead.

 

• Deir Ezzor desert: Four operations which left an ISIS member and ten combatants, including nine Iranian-backed militias, dead.