The United States military has reported a resurgence of ISIS activity in Syria and Iraq, with the number of attacks by the group on track to double from the previous year. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), ISIS has already claimed responsibility for 153 attacks in the first six months of 2024. This resurgence is seen as an attempt by the group to reconstitute its forces following several years of diminished capability.
CENTCOM noted that between January and June 2024, joint operations with Iraqi security forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) resulted in 196 missions, leading to the deaths of 44 ISIS operatives and the arrest of 166 more. This increased activity follows a year where ISIS was behind 121 attacks in the region, indicating a significant escalation in their operations.
Houthi naval drone strikes a tanker ship in the Red Sea pic.twitter.com/67Rz5HD3H0
— OSINTNic (@OSINTNic) July 17, 2024
In a related incident, ISIS claimed responsibility for a deadly attack in Oman. Gunmen attacked a Shiite mosque in Muscat, killing six people and injuring nearly 30 others. This marks the first time ISIS has claimed responsibility for an attack in Oman, a country known for its stability and sectarian harmony. The attackers were eventually killed by Omani security forces after a protracted gunfight.
#Oman 🇴🇲: Three #ISIS militants carried out a shooting attack near a Shia mosque in Wadi Al-Kabir, #Muscat and killed at least 6 people including a Police officer.
Militants were seemingly armed with two 5.56x45mm #NATO Steyr AUG A1 assault rifles and a 7.52x51mm G3A3 rifle. pic.twitter.com/YKeNg9lV2F
— War Noir (@war_noir) July 16, 2024
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