ISIS Kills 13 Syrian Pro-Govt Fighters in Deir Ezzor

Deadliest ISIS attack in Syria in five months

Pro-government forces in Syria were ambushed in the western part of Deir Ezzor Province by ISIS fighters, with 13 pro-government fighters slain and more wounded.

The troops were sweeping the area around Masrib for rebels. This area of course is one of the desert regions that ISIS fighters have been camping out in for years now, and they use that as an opportunity to ambush any government forces in the area.

Since their effective defeat, ISIS has been trying to reestablish itself out of these areas. They have enough fighters, seemingly, but never seem to be able to take over any meaningful territory, and quick reactions tend to chase them back into hiding.

While it’s not clear how big the reaction will be, most of these attacks are followed by an influx of troops, and heavy Russian airstrikes trying to wipe out a good number of ISIS fighters. Either way, the group’s remnants are so huge that they won’t really be wiped out.

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.