The so-called Islamic State (IS) group has argued responsibility for two attacks in southern Syria, including one on government forces described as the first of Syrian forces since the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad in the years.
The so-called attack was stated in a statement that a bomb targeting a “vehicle of an apostasy” exploded, leaving seven soldiers dead or wounded.
The attacks have been “last Thursday” in the Al-Safa area of Sweida’s southern province.
In another statement, the group said this week another bomb attack occurred, targeting members of the US-backed Free Syrian Army. It claimed that the attack killed one fighter and wounded three others.
The Syrian interim government did not comment on any of these claims, and a free Syrian military spokesman immediately refused to respond to a request for comment.
The UK-based Syrian Human Rights Observatory said that attacks on government forces killed one civilian and wounded three soldiers, and described it as the first assault claimed by IS groups against Syrian forces as the 54 rules by the Al-Assad family ended in December.
The extremist groups that once ruled most of Syria and Iraq were opposed to the new authority of Damascus, led by President Ahmad Al-Shara, who was once head of the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda.
Over the past few months, IS Group has argued for responsibility for attacks on the Kurdish-led Syrian democratic army, backed by the US in the northeast.
The IS Group was defeated in Syria in March 2019 when SDF fighters captured the sliver of the last land dominated by extremists.
Since then, the sleeper has been carrying out deadly attacks, mainly in eastern and northeastern Syria.
In January, state media reported that intelligence officers of Syria’s Postal Assad government had blocked plans to launch bombs at Shia Muslim shrines in southern Damascus.
Alshara met with President Donald Trump in Saudi Arabia earlier this month, and the American leader said Washington would work to troubleshoot the economic sanctions imposed on Damascus since Al Assad’s time.
White House spokesman Caroline Leavitt said in a statement after the meeting that Trump had diplomatically recognized Israel to Alshara and urged the United States to stop the revival of IS Group, “to let all foreign terrorists leave Syria.”
In parallel, the European Union lifted most sanctions against Syria earlier this week, but slapped new people on people and groups who were allegedly taking part in attacks on civilians amid a wave of violence in coastal regions in March.
EU foreign policy director Kaja Kallas announced plans to lift sanctions last week, but warned that the move is “conditional” and that sanctions could be reopened if the new government doesn’t keep up with peace.
