Russian warplanes conducted over 30 airstrikes on ISIS positions in the deserts of al-Rasafa in western Raqqa, Palmyra and al-Sukhnah in eastern Homs, and the al-Bishri Mountain area southwest of Deir ez-Zor. This operation followed the execution of 8 Syrian soldiers by the group. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the execution of eight soldiers, including an officer, from Division 11, who were lost contact with on March 26 in an eastern desert region while moving from al-Sukhnah to Deir ez-Zor. The exact date of the soldiers’ killings was not specified by the Observatory.
The intensification of airstrikes comes in response to a notable escalation of deadly activities by ISIS in regions under government control, including an increase in field executions among the regime forces. The Observatory documented the execution of 14 regime forces, including two officers, within 48 hours, following their capture in ambushes set by ISIS in the Syrian desert.
Additionally, on March 5, Russian military aircraft launched a series of airstrikes in the Syrian desert, targeting ISIS cells in six successive strikes in the al-Rasafa desert of western Raqqa.
Periodically, ISIS launches bloody attacks, with their latest operation before this report leading to the capture and killing of at least six regime forces in the Palmyra desert in central Syria. Their bodies were found at different times and locations within the region. Since the beginning of the year, the Observatory has counted the deaths of more than 200 soldiers from the regime forces and fighters loyal to them or Iran, in various ambushes and attacks carried out by the extremist organization.
The resurgence and operational capabilities of ISIS in both Iraq and Syria have been significant concerns despite substantial efforts by the international community to counter the group. Following the territorial defeat of its “caliphate” in March 2019, the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, alongside local partners, shifted to an “advise, assist, and enable” approach, focusing on partnered operations. In 2022, CENTCOM reported conducting 108 operations with partners in Syria, resulting in the detention of 215 ISIS operatives and the death of 466. This included targeted operations against key ISIS leadership, contributing to a strategic disruption of the group’s operational capabilities.
Despite these efforts, ISIS has demonstrated resilience and adaptability, continuing to conduct low-level attacks and maintain its presence, particularly in rural areas of Iraq and Syria where governmental control is weaker. The group has managed to reconstitute in the wake of leadership losses and maintains freedom of movement, exploiting disputes and geographical “seams” to avoid detection and engage in opportunistic attacks against security forces and civilians.
Analyses highlight that underlying issues facilitating ISIS’s rise, such as local grievances, weak governance, and the group’s access to funds, remain unresolved. The situation is compounded by regional complexities and ongoing conflicts, allowing ISIS to maintain its insurgent capabilities and pose a continuous threat.
