Islamic State kills 6 shepherds in Syria: monitor

DAMASCUS,— Islamic State (IS) militants killed six shepherds in Syria’s desert region on Saturday, according to a war monitor, highlighting the ongoing threat from the extremist group despite its territorial defeat.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring organization, reported that the attack occurred south of Palmyra, an area notorious for IS activity. The jihadi militants reportedly killed the shepherds and stole their livestock.

The Islamic State group, which seized large areas of Syria and Iraq in 2014 and declared a so-called caliphate, was driven from its last Syrian stronghold in 2019. However, its remnants remain active, particularly in the vast desert stretching from Damascus to the Iraqi border.

“IS cells persist in launching deadly attacks from their desert stronghold,” the Observatory reported. Since losing its territory, the group has primarily targeted Kurdish-led forces and fighters loyal to Syria’s former government.

The Observatory reported six attacks by the Islamic State in the desert following the recent fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. These assaults have reportedly left 18 civilians and more than 54 pro-Assad soldiers dead.

Assad fled into exile earlier this month following a rapid offensive by the pro-Turkey Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and allied factions.

On a regional tour, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of preventing IS from regaining strength.

During discussions with Turkish officials, Blinken stressed the need for cooperation to maintain stability in the region. “We are committed to ensuring IS cannot re-emerge,” he said, adding that the U.S. would work closely with Iraq to curb the group’s activities.

Despite Turkey never having fought IS and being routinely accused by the West over the last decade of supporting Syrian Islamist groups, including Islamic State, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan assured U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Turkey would remain steadfast in its fight against IS.

This assurance comes even as Turkey continues operations targeting U.S.-backed Kurdish forces, who currently hold over 12,000 IS militants in their prisons.

(With files from AFP | Agencies)