Daesh Militants Launch Deadly Attack on Syrian Government Forces, Killing 33 Soldiers
In a tragic incident that underscores the ongoing turmoil in Syria, Daesh group militants carried out a deadly assault on Syrian government forces in the eastern part of the war-ravaged country. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of 33 soldiers, as reported by a monitoring organization on Saturday. This revised toll comes after an earlier estimate had put the death count at 26.
The attack, which occurred on Thursday evening, targeted an army bus and marked the most lethal strike by the extremist group against government forces in the current year. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a reputable source on the conflict, revealed that the shooting took place near Mayadeen in the Deir Ezzor province.
Despite suffering the loss of its territorial holdings in Syria back in 2019, Daesh has managed to maintain hidden enclaves within the expansive Syrian desert. From these concealed positions, the group continues to execute surprise ambushes and hit-and-run assaults on various targets.
Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the British-based monitoring group that relies on an extensive network of sources within Syria, conveyed the grim update on the death toll. He noted that Daesh militants had besieged the army bus in the desert and unleashed a barrage of gunfire upon it, resulting in the tragic loss of life.
The extremist group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released through its Amaq news agency. In the statement, Daesh detailed that its fighters had ambushed two military buses, employing heavy weaponry and rocket-propelled grenades to carry out the assault. One of the buses was reportedly set ablaze during the attack.
While Daesh has faced significant blows, including the recent death of its leader, the group continues to escalate its deadly military activities. This surge in aggression is seen as an attempt to showcase its enduring strength and relevance in the face of targeted strikes against its leadership.
The conflict in Syria originated in 2011 when President Bashar Assad’s government quashed peaceful protests, leading to a protracted and devastating war. The ensuing strife has drawn in foreign powers and global militant groups, resulting in a staggering death toll surpassing half a million and displacing an estimated half of the country’s pre-war population.
As the nation grapples with the complexities of the conflict, incidents like the recent attack serve as somber reminders of the ongoing challenges and vulnerabilities faced by both the Syrian government forces and the civilian population caught in the crossfire.