A Syrian military operation against the Islamic State (IS) group in the vast Al-Sukhnah desert has hit a deadly snag.
Sixteen Syrian soldiers, including an officer, perished Wednesday, June 12, after encountering a minefield and subsequent attack by IS militants, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
The incident underscores the persistent threat posed by IS remnants in Syria, particularly in the sprawling Badia desert stretching from Damascus to the Iraqi border.
Despite the group’s territorial defeat in 2019, IS has adapted to a guerilla insurgency, targeting government forces and Kurdish fighters with deadly ambushes.
Devastating Toll on Syrian Loyalists
SOHR reports reveal a grim reality. Over 348 Syrian loyalists have been killed by IS this year alone, casting a shadow over the claimed success of the anti-IS operation.
In addition to Syrian government casualties, SOHR also reported that over 40 civilians, including a child and a woman, were killed in attacks by IS in the Syrian desert. Regime forces and their proxy militias reportedly killed nearly 30 IS militants during the same period.
The United Nations (UN) estimates a combined IS force of 3,000-5,000 fighters remain active in Iraq and Syria, with the Badia serving as their Syrian stronghold.
These developments highlight the challenges faced by Syrian forces.
A Syrian military operation against the Islamic State (IS) group in the vast Al-Sukhnah desert has hit a deadly snag.
Sixteen Syrian soldiers, including an officer, perished Wednesday, June 12, after encountering a minefield and subsequent attack by IS militants, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
The incident underscores the persistent threat posed by IS remnants in Syria, particularly in the sprawling Badia desert stretching from Damascus to the Iraqi border.
Despite the group’s territorial defeat in 2019, IS has adapted to a guerilla insurgency, targeting government forces and Kurdish fighters with deadly ambushes.
Devastating Toll on Syrian Loyalists
SOHR reports reveal a grim reality. Over 348 Syrian loyalists have been killed by IS this year alone, casting a shadow over the claimed success of the anti-IS operation.
In addition to Syrian government casualties, SOHR also reported that over 40 civilians, including a child and a woman, were killed in attacks by IS in the Syrian desert. Regime forces and their proxy militias reportedly killed nearly 30 IS militants during the same period.
The United Nations (UN) estimates a combined IS force of 3,000-5,000 fighters remain active in Iraq and Syria, with the Badia serving as their Syrian stronghold.
These developments highlight the challenges faced by Syrian forces.
The desert’s vastness makes pinpointing and eliminating IS pockets difficult, while the lingering presence of landmines adds a lethal layer of complexity.
The UN estimates over 14 million Syrians are at risk from explosive remnants of war, a chilling reminder of the war’s long shadow.
Stalemate in the Sand: Can Syria Secure Victory?
The Syrian government, with Russian air support, has struggled to achieve a decisive victory in the Sukhna desert.
The soldiers’ deaths raise questions about the effectiveness of the current strategy.
With limited resources for demining operations, the fight against IS threatens to become a protracted war of attrition.
Unrest in the North: Assassinations Plague Aleppo
Adding to the Syrian government’s woes, a separate report from Aleppo province paints a troubling picture.
Two high-ranking Syrian regime officers, a lieutenant colonel and a major, were assassinated on the road between Aleppo city and Kuwairas.
The perpetrators remain unidentified, and Syrian forces are currently searching the area.
This incident comes on the heels of a similar assassination on June 4, where unknown gunmen ambushed and killed two security officers associated with the “Fourth Division” west of Damascus.
The Syrian conflict, raging since 2011, has already claimed over half a million lives and displaced millions.
The recent incidents underline the ongoing conflict in the region, with the specter of IS still looming over Syria’s fragile stability. Assassinations in Aleppo serve as a reminder that the Syrian struggle extends beyond IS.
Rebel groups and other anti-government elements continue to operate in certain regions, posing a security threat to the Syrian government and further destabilizing the country.
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