Overview

• ISIL (ISIS) has conducted parallel attacks in the regions of Raqqa, Homs, and Deir ez-Zor, killing at least 30 Syrian pro-government militia and soldiers, thereby highlighting the group's enduring threat despite its territorial defeat.
• The attacks were carried out by machine guns, killing 26 members of the National Defence Forces, a pro-government militia, and four soldiers. However, the death toll is expected to rise due to the number of critically injured victims.
• In response to these attacks, Russian warplanes have carried out strikes against ISIL positions in the desert, resulting in an undisclosed number of casualties among its members.
• ISIL, once a formidable terrorist group boasting an estimated 50,000 fighters, continues to carry out hit-and-run attacks against both pro-government forces and Kurdish-led fighters, from its hideouts in the desert.
• These attacks come in the wake of ISIL's leadership transition after the death of its previous leader, with Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi announced as the group's new chief. Comparably, in August, there were multiple ISIL-performed attacks killing dozens of pro-government militants and civilians.