A Month Marked by Attacks Attributed to ISIS in Northeastern Syria
During the month of November, 22 operations and attacks suspected to have been carried out by ISIS cells were recorded in various areas of northern and eastern Syria, according to local sources. The attacks ranged from shootings, improvised explosive device (IED) bombings, and medium-range rocket and shell strikes, resulting in the death of an Internal Security Forces member and the injury of a Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighter and a civilian.
The eastern, northern, and western countryside of Deir ez-Zor witnessed the largest share of these operations, which took multiple forms, most notably:
November 2: An SDF checkpoint in the town of Abu Hammam was targeted with medium weapons, followed by an exchange of fire with no reported casualties.
November 3: Gunfire from a motorcycle targeted the home of an Autonomous Administration official in the town of Jadeed Akidat, with no injuries reported.
November 4: A military position in Dhiban was targeted with an RPG round, triggering clashes with no human losses.
November 5: An attack with machine guns targeted a house and shops in the town of Tayyib al-Fal, causing only material damage.
November 7: Gunfire targeted an oil tanker near the al-Azba field with no injuries.
November 8: An IED exploded as an SDF patrol passed near Sousa, with no casualties.
On November 13, simultaneous operations took place, including the targeting of two oil tankers in Tayyib al-Fal and al-Shahil, with one driver injured. A group also infiltrated from the western bank of the Euphrates River and attacked a checkpoint in Abu Hammam before withdrawing.
On November 16, the co-chair of the al-Baghuz municipality was targeted with gunfire, and an Internal Security Forces member lost his life in another attack on the Muhaymidah–Maamal road. An Internal Security Forces center in Dhiban also came under fire.
Attacks continued between November 18 and 21, including gunfire at checkpoints in al-Busayrah and Abriha, as well as strikes with rockets and shells targeting SDF positions in Dhiban and Sousa. Additionally, two drones—reportedly launched from areas controlled by the Syrian Interim Government forces in the Ghanem al-Ali axis—were used before being shot down.
On November 24, an attack on an SDF vehicle in Jadeed Akidat injured one of its fighters, while another vehicle was targeted near the Jafra oil field.
On November 28, a vehicle belonging to SDF in the town of Muhaymidah was targeted with a rocket-propelled projectile, followed by clashes, with no confirmed information on casualties.
By the end of the month, the total number of attacks attributed to ISIS cells since the beginning of the year rose to 224, most of which occurred in rural Deir ez-Zor.
In comparison with the previous month, 18 attacks were recorded in October, resulting in the deaths of five SDF fighters and injuries to ten others, in addition to the injury of four Internal Security Forces members, the deaths of two civilians, and injuries to two others, along with varying material damage.
