US Strikes Kill 35 ISIS Militants in Syria Amid Increasing Activity

U.S. airstrikes on Monday targeted senior leaders of the Islamic State in Syria, resulting in the deaths of up to 35 militants. This operation reflects increasing ISIS activity despite previous territorial losses and emphasizes ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.

U.S. airstrikes in Syria on October 30, 2024, successfully targeted and killed up to 35 Islamic State (ISIS) militants, according to a statement from U.S. Central Command. The strikes specifically aimed at high-ranking ISIS figures within multiple camps located in the Syrian desert in late afternoon hours, and no civilian casualties were reported. The announcement followed queries about the identities of the individuals eliminated.

The military actions occur in the backdrop of heightened unrest in the region, which has seen U.S. forces boost their presence by deploying warships and air defense systems. The current climate involves active hostilities between Israel and Iranian-backed groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas, contributing to an environment of international concern over stability in Syria.

A recent Pentagon warning highlighted a troubling trend, with ISIS-related incidents in Syria and Iraq expected to double compared to the previous year's occurrences. Reports indicate that ISIS claimed responsibility for 153 attacks in these regions in the first half of 2024 alone, a sharp increase from 121 attacks throughout the entire prior year. This resurgence follows a period where the group significantly lost territory after its peak in 2014, during which it established strongholds in both Syria and Iraq.

Devorah Margolin, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, commented on the persistent threats posed by ISIS, emphasizing that the group has been patiently waiting for the right opportunity to re-emerge since 2019. She noted that their capability to carry out attacks transcends their public claims and highlighted ongoing efforts to free imprisoned members and maintain influence in northeastern Syria.

Currently, the U.S. maintains approximately 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria, working to suppress any resurgence of ISIS. However, officials have indicated that plans are in place for the eventual withdrawal of forces from Iraq over the next two years, with a continuation of operations in Syria remaining dependent on the situation on the ground.

Margolin cautioned that a U.S. military withdrawal could facilitate an ISIS resurgence. Without a robust operational base in Iraq, sustaining aerial support to counter ISIS in Syria would be severely compromised. She underscored the urgency for concrete strategic planning to address the complexities of the ongoing conflict and counteract any potential strengthening of the Islamic State in the absence of U.S. forces.