ISIS Ambush Kills 12 Syrian Soldiers, Captures Four Others

Troops sweeping the desert looking for attackers

ISIS forces continue to carry out actions from the deserts of central Syria. In Monday they ambushed Syrian troops in Homs Province, killing 12 and capturing four others near Palmyra.

Syria has been trying to root ISIS out of the desert areas in Homs, and forces later swept the desert near the ambush trying to find them. They claim to have inflicted more than 80 casualties among the militants.

At their peak, ISIS controlled a caliphate that spanned much of Syria and parts of neighboring Iraq. At this point, they control no populated areas, but much of their fighting force in Syria remains scattered around the deserts of Homs and Deir Ezzor, attacking when they’re able.

Initially Syria was content to just leave them, but more recently they, with the help of Russia, have been actively hunting ISIS remnants, noting that the group seems to be lasting forever and carrying out attacks at will.

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.