ISIS’s deadly bombings in southern Syria’s Sweida Province mark the terrorist group’s first direct assault on the new government since President Bashar al-Assad’s fall, exposing critical security gaps in a nation still reeling from years of conflict.
Key Takeaways
- ISIS claimed responsibility for two bombings targeting Syrian government forces in Sweida Province, killing and wounding multiple soldiers
- These attacks represent ISIS’s first direct assault on Syrian government forces since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime
- Despite losing territorial control in 2019, ISIS maintains active sleeper cells throughout Syria’s central and eastern deserts
- The bombings occurred in Sweida Province, an area largely controlled by the Druse minority where sectarian tensions have recently resulted in over 100 deaths
- President Trump has recently lifted sanctions on Syria after meeting with transitional leader President Ahmed al-Sharaa
ISIS Resurfaces With Deadly Precision
The Islamic State (ISIS) has launched its first major offensive against Syria’s new government, detonating two bombs in the southern Sweida Province that killed and wounded multiple Syrian soldiers. The first attack on Wednesday targeted a Syrian Army reconnaissance group in a desert area, wounding members of the 70th Division and killing an assistant. ISIS militants followed this with a second bombing on Thursday in the Talul al Safa area, which reportedly killed or wounded seven additional soldiers according to ISIS statements posted online.
NEW | ISIS in Syria: Salafi-jihadi groups, such as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), have increased their activity in Syria in May 2025. A Syrian Interior Ministry spokesperson noted the increase in activity after three recent raids targeting ISIS cells in May.
Other… pic.twitter.com/CUxuaBPU1S
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) May 28, 2025
Strategic Timing and Tactical Approach
ISIS utilized sophisticated methods in their attacks, employing a remote-controlled land mine for the first bombing according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The terrorist organization specifically targeted what they called a “vehicle of the apostate regime” in the al-Safa desert region of Sweida province. These attacks occurred in a mountainous desert area where ISIS has maintained a persistent presence despite claims of their territorial defeat in 2019. The timing appears calculated, coming shortly after the transition to Syria’s new government leadership.
“vehicle of the apostate regime,” stated ISIL.
Not limiting their aggression to government forces, ISIS also claimed a second bomb attack targeting the US-backed Free Syrian Army, resulting in one death and three injuries. The United States continues to support the Free Syrian Army, which maintains operations in the nearby al Tanf Deconfliction Zone, creating a complex battleground where multiple forces operate in close proximity with competing interests and alliances.
Syria’s Fragile Political Landscape
The attacks come at a critical juncture for Syria’s political transition. President Ahmed al-Sharaa, appointed in January following Assad’s fall, has pledged to hold elections after establishing a new constitution in approximately four years. In a significant diplomatic shift, U.S. President Donald Trump recently lifted sanctions on Syria after meeting with transitional leader al-Sharaa in Riyadh. This emerging government, which replaced the Assad regime, reportedly had past connections to al-Qaeda but severed those ties nearly a decade ago.
“The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for two bomb explosions in Syria, the first time the extremist group has directly targeted the new government since it took over in December, a war monitoring group said,” said a war monitoring group.
Notably, the Syrian government has not officially reported these ISIS attacks, instead highlighting their efforts conducting raids against ISIS operatives in Damascus. This information gap raises concerns about transparency and the government’s ability to maintain control and provide accurate security assessments to both citizens and international observers. The situation is further complicated by Sweida’s effective control by the Druse minority, where recent sectarian clashes have resulted in over 100 deaths.
The Persistent ISIS Threat
While ISIS was declared territorially defeated in Syria in 2019, these attacks demonstrate the group’s continued capability to operate effectively through sleeper cells, particularly in central and eastern desert regions. The terrorist organization has shown renewed activity since Assad’s fall, including plotting attacks in Damascus and claiming responsibility for car bombings in eastern Syria. This resurgence suggests ISIS may be attempting to reassert itself amid changing regional alliances and weakening state control throughout the war-torn country.
The bombings in Sweida—a province where ISIS has been relatively inactive for nearly a decade—indicate the group’s strategic adaptation and opportunistic approach to exploiting security vulnerabilities. As Syria’s new government works to establish legitimacy and control, these attacks highlight the significant security challenges that remain despite the political transition and President Trump’s diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region through sanctions relief and international engagement.
