ISIS Attacks Syria Bus, at Least 28 Killed

Syrian Observatory suggests death toll could have been higher

ISIS fighters attacked a Syrian bus in the far eastern Deir Ezzor Province Wednesday, killing at least 28 people. The Syrian state media refers to the slain as all “citizens” hit in a planned ambush.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said three buses were hit, and that they were carrying soldiers as well as civilians. They put the death toll at 37, and said the incident was near Palmyra.

It would make sense for ISIS to try to kill Syrian troops in the area, but the group has also killed a lot of civilians in attacks of opportunity as well, and with ISIS looking to be more high profile lately, either version of the report might be true.

Defeated pretty much nationwide, ISIS in Syria is almost entirely confined to deserts, mostly in Deir Ezzor. In recent weeks they’ve tried to launch new attacks, though so far they’ve not successfully recovered any territory.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.