Syria
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters stand guard at Al Naeem Square, in Raqqa, Syria on February 7, 2022. File photo: AP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Tuesday that two of their fighters were killed by the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria’s eastern Deir ez-Zor province.
A statement by the SDF noted that late in the day on Tuesday “an ISIS terrorist cell launched a machine-gun attack on one of our military points in the town of al-Bahra, located in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor.”
“Clashes ensued between our fighters and the attackers, resulting in the martyrdom of two of our comrades,” the statement added, noting that “the members of the terrorist cell fled the scene on motorcycles.”
The SDF, backed by the United States, functions as the de facto military force of northeastern Syria (Rojava) and remains a key partner of the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.
Since its territorial defeat in Syria in 2019, ISIS has been trying to regain its strength, particularly after a coalition of opposition groups led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) on December 8 toppled the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.
The Kurdish-led force on Tuesday characterized the latest attack as “part of a broader escalation by the terrorist organization against our forces in northern and eastern Syria, making use of the ongoing chaos in the country.”
“Our forces reaffirm their commitment to pursuing these terrorist cells until they are completely dismantled and the security and stability of the region are secured,” the SDF asserted.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported in early April that ISIS has ramped up its attacks in SDF-controlled areas, targeting both civilians and security forces. The monitor documented over 50 such incidents since the beginning of 2025.
SDF chief Mazloum Abdi has repeatedly warned about the persistent threat of ISIS, especially within detention centers and camps. In January, Abdi stressed the “need to intensify efforts to continue the fight against ISIS if we don’t want to see it make a comeback.”
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