On IS activities in Syria

Throughout May, low intensity fighting was documented in a number of governorates of the country.

On May 9, it became known that Syrian security forces eliminated two IS field commanders in Deraa governorate. This was reported by the SANA agency, citing a source in law enforcement agencies. According to them, the operation to eliminate the terrorist leaders was carried out on May 8. The eliminated militants were accused of organizing assassination attempts, planting explosive devices, and repeatedly attacking Syrian soldiers and civilians in Deraa.

On May 28, it became known that the day before at least two members of the Syrian security service were killed when a bomb planted in their car exploded in the center of Deraa. This was reported by the Al-Mudun news portal. According to the media, the attack was carried out by IS militants.

On May 10, IS militants blew up a police car at one of the police stations in Damascus. As a result of the attack, one policeman was killed and four were injured.

On May 11, IS militants killed two soldiers in Quneitra governorate. This was reported by Sham-FM radio station. According to them, the terrorists made an armed raid on the highway between Jbaa and Meskhara settlements, captured two Syrian soldiers and shot them.

On May 19, it was announced another attempted terrorist attack against Syrian government troops was thwarted that the day before in the governorate of Homs. According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, military personnel of the defended post of the 134th tank brigade of the SAR armed forces discovered a group of militants in three pickup truck west of Mount Tell al-Tuwayed near the al-Tanf area, controlled by the so-called “international anti-terrorist coalition”, while they were trying to covertly exit the area. After the fire impact from the government forces of the SAR, the group fled to the territory controlled by the “coalition” in the area of ​​the Sluby valley.

In general, in May, a certain shift in IS activity to the southern governorates of Syria was noticed. This may indicate that IS has activated or tried to activate its “sleeping cells” there. It also seems that we should expect new provocations of militants prepared by the “international coalition” in the al-Tanf zone.