SOHR: ISIS Attacks Iranian Militias in Syria's Badia

An ISIS poster in the central Syrian town of Sukhnah is adorned with the flags of pro-government fighters after the Syrian government took control of the area (AFP)
An ISIS poster in the central Syrian town of Sukhnah is adorned with the flags of pro-government fighters after the Syrian government took control of the area (AFP)
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SOHR: ISIS Attacks Iranian Militias in Syria's Badia

An ISIS poster in the central Syrian town of Sukhnah is adorned with the flags of pro-government fighters after the Syrian government took control of the area (AFP)
An ISIS poster in the central Syrian town of Sukhnah is adorned with the flags of pro-government fighters after the Syrian government took control of the area (AFP)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported a number of ISIS sudden attacks on posts of Iranian-backed militias and regime forces in the surrounding areas of Arak oil field in east Homs desert.

The attack was followed by clashes between the two sides, amid reports of casualties.

ISIS cells targeted a guard post of al-Qura Guards, militias backed by Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), on the bank of Euphrates river in al-Asharah city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, killing four Syrian militiamen and injuring others.

Earlier, a bomb planted by unknown gunmen believed to be of ISIS cells, exploded in the car carrying militiamen, near Wadha village of Maskanah town in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, according to the Observatory.

As a result, four Iranian-backed militiamen were killed, and two others injured.

ISIS also killed eight regime-backed militiamen in surprise attacks on their posts and checkpoints in different areas in the Syrian desert. In response, Russian jets executed tens of airstrikes on ISIS positions, leaving casualties.

Since March 2019, SOHR documented various ISIS attacks, bombings, and ambushes which resulted in the deaths of at least 1,339 regime soldiers and loyalists of various nationalities, including two Russians, and 145 Iranian-backed militiamen of non-Syrian nationalities.

Also, four civilians working in gas fields, 11 shepherds, and four other people were killed in ISIS attacks during the same period, according to the war monitor.

About 754 ISIS members were also killed in exchanged attacks and bombardment since March 2019.



Israel's Smotrich Threatens to Topple Govt if Netanyahu Doesn't Resume War after 1st Phase of Ceasefire

FILE PHOTO: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks at a news conference after announcing that he will sign an order to seize Palestinian Authority funds and transfer them to the families of victims of Palestinian attacks, at Israel's Finance Ministry in Jerusalem, January 8, 2023. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks at a news conference after announcing that he will sign an order to seize Palestinian Authority funds and transfer them to the families of victims of Palestinian attacks, at Israel's Finance Ministry in Jerusalem, January 8, 2023. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun/File Photo
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Israel's Smotrich Threatens to Topple Govt if Netanyahu Doesn't Resume War after 1st Phase of Ceasefire

FILE PHOTO: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks at a news conference after announcing that he will sign an order to seize Palestinian Authority funds and transfer them to the families of victims of Palestinian attacks, at Israel's Finance Ministry in Jerusalem, January 8, 2023. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks at a news conference after announcing that he will sign an order to seize Palestinian Authority funds and transfer them to the families of victims of Palestinian attacks, at Israel's Finance Ministry in Jerusalem, January 8, 2023. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun/File Photo

Israel’s far-right finance minister has threatened to topple Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition if he doesn't resume the war in Gaza after the first phase of the ceasefire agreement expires in six weeks.
Bezalel Smotrich made the threat Monday, a day after the ceasefire went into effect.
“If, God forbid, the war is not resumed, I will bring the government down,” Smotrich told reporters.
Smotrich, who leads an ultranationalist religious party, voted against the deal but has remained in the governing coalition for the time being. His departure would rob Netanyahu of his parliamentary majority, setting the stage for the government’s collapse and early elections, The Associated Press said.
Smotrich said he has received assurances that Israel will resume the war after the first phase, during which 33 hostages held in Gaza are to return home and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are to be freed. The second phase, which must still be negotiated, is to work out an end to the war and return of all remaining hostages.
“I insisted, demanded, and received an unequivocal commitment from the prime minister, the minister of defense and the rest of my Cabinet colleagues — we will not stop this war a moment before realizing its full goals,” Smotrich said.
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has already resigned over the ceasefire agreement.
Netanyahu, hoping to stabilize his fragile coalition, has so far offered the public no guarantees that Israel will proceed to Phase 2 of the agreement.