Central Syria Attack: Gunmen Kill 22 Pro-Government Fighters
Gunmen killed 22 pro-government fighters in central Syria on Thursday night. The attack targeted a bus carrying members of the Quds Brigade near the town of Sukhna.
Details of the Attack
- No immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
- Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and pro-government media attributed the attack to the Islamic State (ISIS).
While pro-media sources claimed all the killed fighters were Quds Brigade members, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that the majority belonged to the group. The Quds Brigade has been actively involved in supporting Syrian government forces during the country’s conflict.
The Quds Brigade should not be confused with the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, which shares the same name.
ISIS Involvement and Recent Activities
- ISIS executed eight Syrian regime soldiers in late March.
- Recent attack on Syrian troops near Sukhna.
- Despite ISIS’ defeat in Syria in March 2019, sleeper cells continue to carry out deadly attacks.
According to a United Nations report, ISIS’ combined strength in Iraq and Syria is estimated between 3,000 and 5,000 fighters. The group has intensified attacks since November last year.