ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Monday that the Islamic State (ISIS) cells carried out an attack on their forces in eastern Syria, killing a fighter and injuring another.
The “treacherous” attack targeted one of SDF’s checkpoints in Hajeen district of the eastern province of Deir ez-Zor, according to a statement from the SDF.
The oil-rich Deir ez-Zor is partially controlled by the SDF and has seen an escalation in ISIS activity.
“These repeated terrorist attacks underscore the difficult challenges our forces face and reaffirm the critical importance of our mission to eliminate terrorism at its roots and uphold security and stability throughout the region,” read the statement.
The SDF, the de facto army of northeast Syria (Rojava), has reported several ISIS attacks in Deir ez-Zor. It has also captured several ISIS suspects.
ISIS has also been active in parts of Deir ez-Zor controlled by Damascus.
Syrian state media reported on Sunday that a suspected ISIS attack on a police station in Deir ez-Zor’s Mayadeen city. At least four people were killed, and several others were injured.
ISIS, which was territorially defeated in 2019, has recently sought to regain ground, taking advantage of instability following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The SDF has fought to prevent the militants from reestablishing a foothold in the shifting security landscape.