ISIS claims first attack on Syrian Transitional Government

DARAMSUQ — The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for its first attack on Syrian Transitional Government (STG) forces since the ousting of dictator Bashar al-Assad in December, as reported by France 24.

In a statement monitored by the SITE Intelligence Group, ISIS announced it had planted an explosive device on a military vehicle belonging to the STG Army’s 70th Division in the southern province of Suwayda. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the explosion on Wednesday resulted in one fatality and three soldiers wounded.

The deceased individual was reportedly accompanying the military patrol in a desert area, according to SOHR. This marks the first attack claimed by ISIS against the newly established STG, which assumed power following Assad’s fall late last year.

ISIS, once a dominant force controlling large swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq, was largely defeated in 2019 through a campaign led by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) with support from a US-led international coalition. Despite this defeat, remnants of the group have maintained a foothold in Syria’s eastern desert, continuing to stage low-scale but persistent insurgent attacks.

Previously, most ISIS operations targeted security forces associated with the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES). The Suwayda bombing signals a notable shift in the group’s operational focus, underscoring its ability to strike beyond traditional strongholds.

In parallel, Syrian authorities reported the recent arrest of several ISIS cell members near Daramsuq (Damascus), accusing them of planning attacks. Earlier this month, a government-led security raid in Holeb (Aleppo) resulted in the deaths of three ISIS militants and one state security officer. The following day, a car bomb targeted STG forces in the eastern town of Mayadin, leaving five people dead. Although suspected to be an ISIS attack, the group did not publicly claim it.

Meanwhile, diplomatic dynamics surrounding Syria are evolving. Initially cautious, the US appears to be warming to the new Syrian leadership under Islamist figure Ahmed al-Sharaa. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump met with head of the STG Ahmad al-Sharaa in Riyadh, urging cooperation to prevent a resurgence of ISIS activity.

This escalation highlights the ongoing threat posed by ISIS and the challenges faced by the STG in ensuring stability and security across the country.