ISIS Resurgence in Iraq and Syria

Attacks attributed to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) have surged this year, with the Pentagon revealing that the organization is on track to double last year’s attack count. This indicates a resurgence of the terrorist group, a decade after it wreaked havoc in the region.

The Pentagon’s report from the military’s Central Command highlighted that ISIS claimed responsibility for 153 attacks in Iraq and Syria during the first half of this year, surpassing the 121 attacks claimed in all of last year. Despite ongoing efforts by a U.S.-led coalition and partner forces to target ISIS operatives in both countries, the group’s activity has intensified.

Originally stemming from Al Qaeda and known for its brutal tactics, ISIS exploited the chaos following Syria’s civil war to seize control of vast territories. One of its significant victories was the capture of Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, before facing setbacks in 2014 due to international military intervention.

Although the physical caliphate of ISIS in the Middle East was eradicated with U.S. support five years ago, the group has since decentralized into various cells and affiliates globally. The U.S. military has maintained a presence in Syria and Iraq to counter the ongoing threat posed by ISIS.

Current Situation

The U.S.-led coalition has carried out close to 200 missions against ISIS since the beginning of this year, collaborating with Kurdish-led forces in Syria and the Iraqi military. According to the military report, U.S.-led operations have resulted in the elimination of 44 ISIS members and the detention of 166 others.

Mourners in Qamishli, Syria, gathered for a mass funeral in 2022 to honor Kurdish fighters who sacrificed their lives defending against ISIS militants during a prison siege.