2022 Jabal al-Bishrī clashes
2022 Jabal al-Bishrī clashes | |||||||
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Part of the Syrian Desert campaign (December 2017–present) during the Syrian civil war | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Russia (aerial support) | Islamic State | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
Syrian Arab Army | Military of the Islamic State | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
26 killed[2] | 7+ killed[2] | ||||||
2 civilian bus drivers killed[3] |
The 2022 Jabal al-Bishrī clashes were a set of clashes that took place in the Jabal al-Bishrī highland area on the border of the Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Raqqa Governorate and Homs Governorates between forces of the Syrian Government and the Islamic State.
The attacks came after the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on a large grouping of Islamic State fighters in the Palmyra desert on 9 June.[4]
The clashes
[edit]On 20 June, 11 Syrian government soldiers and two bus drivers were killed in an ambush by ISIS militants, targeting Syrian Army buses transporting soldiers on the highway in the Al-Jira area.[5][1] The Islamic State later claimed responsibility for this attack.[6]
On 21 June, three Syrian government soldiers were killed and three others were injured after IS fighters attacked a temporary military outpost in the Jabal Al-Bishri desert on the administrative boundary between Raqqa and Deir az-Zour provinces in northeastern Syria under the cover of a sandstorm.[7][8]
On 22 June, late in the day, clashes began between government and IS forces in the Jabal Al-Bishri desert, following aerial bombardment in the area by Russian warplanes, targeting IS positions. These clashes continued into the next day, leaving at least 9 Syrian soldiers and 7 IS fighters dead.[9][2]
SOHR reported that on 24 June, in response to the clashes, Syrian government forces launched large-scale combing operations in the area to find and eliminate IS cells in the region.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Armed Attack Claims Lives Of 11 Government Soldiers In Syria's Raqqa". North Press Agency. 20 June 2022.
- ^ a b c "ISIS dramatic escalation | 26 regime soldiers and militiamen killed in Jabal Al-Bashari area in 72 hours". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 23 June 2022.
- ^ "Spotlight on Global Jihad (June 16-22, 2022)". The Meir Intelligence and Terrorism Information Centre. 23 June 2022.
- ^ "Escalating ISIS activity | Dozens of ISIS fighters gather openly in area controlled by Iranian-backed militias and regime forces in Palmyra desert for unknown reasons". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 9 June 2022.
- ^ "At least 13 killed in northern Syria bus attack". Al Jazeera. 20 June 2022.
- ^ "Syria Says Attack on Bus Kills 13". VOA. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ "Fresh ISIS attack | Five regime soldiers killed and injured in attack on military outpost in Al-Raqqah desert". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 21 June 2022.
- ^ "Islamic State group militants kill three regime fighters in Syrian Desert". The New Arab. 21 June 2022.
- ^ "ISIS kills nine pro-regime fighters in eastern Syria: War monitor". Al Arabiyah. 23 June 2022.
- ^ "After death of 26 soldiers and militiamen in separate attacks | Regime forces launch large-scale campaign targeting ISIS cells in southern Al-Raqqah". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 24 June 2022.