When a gunman aligned with the Islamic State group killed two U.S. servicemembers and a civilian contractor in Palmyra, Syria, in mid-December, it prompted fears of a possible reconstitution of the violent extremist group. Extra precisely, the uptick in IS assaults indicators a determined try and drive a wedge between the Syrian transitional authorities led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa and the USA, which have just lately deepened their counterterrorism cooperation.
Whereas the interim authorities has made notable advances in opposition to IS since taking energy in late 2024, its escalating battle with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces—till just lately Washington’s principal associate in countering the extremist group within the northeast—dangers undermining its counterterrorism beneficial properties. A chronic battle with the SDF might pressure relations between Damascus and its worldwide companions, which might enable IS and different violent extremist teams to delegitimize Sharaa’s pragmatic détente with the West. This threat is heightened by Sharaa’s perceived moderation and his choice to not impose a hardline Islamist code after his insurgent coalition ousted Bashar al-Assad. All of this makes the present second particularly susceptible to makes an attempt by IS to take advantage of political and safety vulnerabilities in Syria.
Assaults by the Islamic State have elevated notably for the reason that Syrian authorities joined the worldwide coalition to defeat the group in November. Earlier than this, Syria’s Ministry of the Inside had already been cooperating with the USA by sharing intelligence and conducting joint operations in opposition to IS cells throughout Syria, serving to to ascertain post-Assad Damascus as a reputable counterterrorism associate.
