Update on FTO activities in Syria
Throughout February, low intensity fighting was observed in a number of governorates of the country.
On February 1, militants of the Tahrir Hayat ash-Sham (HTS) group fired fr om multiple rocket launchers at the positions of the Syrian army in the south-east of Idlib governorate. This was reported by the Al-Arabiya TV station. According to them, one of the strikes hit the camp of government forces in the vicinity of the city of Kfar Rum. As a result, eight Syrian soldiers were killed, including one officer. Another three Syrian soldiers were killed in the same area by sniper fire.
On February 5, it became known that the Kurdish troops of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) managed to detain 210 Islamic State militants during the anti-terrorist operation in the city of Raqqa. This was reported by the Al-Hadas TV channel, citing a statement from the SDF command. “SDF special forces discovered underground shelters and passages that were used by the militants who infiltrated the city. Stockpiles of weapons and explosives, suicide belts and extremist publications, used to recruit new IS supporters, were seized from the mercenaries.”
On February 12, it became known that at least 11 people were killed and another 10 were injured in an attack by IS militants in Homs governorate. This was reported by SANA agency. According to him, the target of the attack of the radicals was a group of civilians who were gathering truffle mushrooms 70 km south of Palmyra.
On February 17, it became known that more than 50 people were killed during an attack by IS fighters in Homs governorate. This was reported by Al-Ikhbariyah Syrian News Channel. According to them, “more than fifty citizens who were truffle hunting were killed during an attack by the terrorists of IS to the south-west of the town of Al-Sukhna in the eastern part of Homs governorate.” According to the updated data, there were 7 military and 46 civilians among the victims.
On the same day, the Pentagon Central Command reported on a special operation in Syria, during which a prominent IS field commander Hamza al-Khomsi (nom de guerre) was eliminated. During the operation, four American soldiers were injured.
On February 26, two Syrian soldiers were killed, and three more were injured as a result of the militants shelling army positions near the Sukkariya village in Latakia governorate.
On February 27, nine people were killed and two were injured by a mine explosion near the city of Salamiyah (182 km from Damascus), Hama governorate. The mine was planted by IS militants.