New Year's celebrations in Syria
Syria foils Daesh New Year’s attacks, security tightened
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- Syrian authorities accuse Daesh of planning New Year’s attacks on churches and civilian gatherings.
- One suicide attacker killed a security officer in Aleppo; government foiled additional plots.
Syrian authorities said Thursday that Daesh had planned attacks targeting churches and civilian gatherings during New Year’s celebrations.
A suicide bomber killed a security officer in Aleppo on Wednesday night. Authorities identified the attacker as a member of Daesh.
Read more: Suicide bombing kills security officer in Aleppo
Prevented plots and heightened security
Earlier, the Syrian Interior Ministry announced it had foiled another suicide attack intended for Aleppo on New Year’s Eve, which had already resulted in one police fatality and injuries to two others.
The ministry said intelligence indicated Daesh planned multiple attacks across several governorates, prompting strict security measures, particularly in Aleppo and other high-risk areas.
Read more: Syria reveals new post-Assad banknotes
Recent Daesh activity and counterattacks
Daesh has recently intensified operations in areas under Syrian government control. A December 13 attack in Palmyra killed two US soldiers and a civilian, prompting US airstrikes on suspected Daesh positions.
Syrian authorities also conducted operations against Daesh, including killing a senior leader on December 25 in coordination with the US-led international coalition, and capturing another leader near Damascus hours earlier.
Read more: Syria: Security officer killed by Assad regime loyalists in Latakia
Analysts note that groups like Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah, responsible for a June church bombing in Damascus that killed 25 people, act as Daesh fronts. Syria officially joined the US-led coalition against Daesh last month during President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to Washington.
