An attack on pro-government fighters by suspected members of the Islamic State group in central Syria has resulted in the tragic loss of 22 lives, according to reports from an opposition war monitor and pro-government media.
The incident occurred near the town of Sukhna, which was once an IS stronghold. Gunmen targeted a bus carrying members of the Quds Brigade, a government and Russian-backed faction primarily composed of Palestinian fighters in Syria.
While there has been no immediate claim of responsibility, both the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the pro-government radio station Sham FM have attributed the attack to the Islamic State group.
Reports indicate that all 22 fighters killed in the assault were associated with the Quds Brigade, as confirmed by Sham FM. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted that the majority of the casualties belonged to this group.
The Quds Brigade has been actively involved in supporting Syrian government forces throughout the country's prolonged conflict, which has resulted in significant human suffering, with an estimated half a million people losing their lives and half of the pre-war population being displaced.
It is important to distinguish the Quds Brigade from the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, despite sharing the same name.
Although the Islamic State group suffered a major defeat in Syria in March 2019, its sleeper cells continue to pose a threat, being held responsible for various deadly attacks targeting Syrian government forces as well as members of the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.
