By Samah Abdul Fattah | 2025-10-08

Coalition forces continue to intensify their operations in northern and eastern Syria, targeting the remaining cells of the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)."

Experts say that while isolated attacks persist, much of the region has already achieved stability and full security following successful clearances of terrorist elements.

On September 27, counter-terrorism forces reported a confrontation in the town of Abriha, Deir Ezzor, where they killed a key ISIS militant.

A few days earlier, a similar clash took place in al-Bahra, in the eastern part of Deir Ezzor, where counter-terrorism forces swiftly launched a large-scale security operation to pursue and eliminate the terrorists in the area.

"Counter-terrorism forces are pursuing high-quality operations in northern and eastern Syria to strike the gatherings and hideouts of the remaining ISIS cells," said Farhad Khoja, a member of the counter-terrorism coalition forces.

Khoja said that these missions fall into two main categories.

"The first involves raiding terrorist hideouts based on confirmed intelligence and surveillance," he said. "The second occurs when terrorist attacks are launched, leading to intense confrontations that result in the killing or capture of the remaining militants."

Each successful operation reinforces the coalition’s determination to eliminate all cells, marking continued progress toward the complete removal of terrorist influence in the region, he said.

Growing support

The ongoing counter-terrorism successes have strengthened civilian trust in the coalition’s mission.

"The large number of youth volunteering with coalition forces reflects the high degree of civilian support and satisfaction with the current situation in areas previously plagued by ISIS activity," said Bahaa al-Ali, an activist in the city of Deir Ezzor.

Al-Ali emphasized that the frequency of coalition operations—averaging at least one engagement a day -- demonstrates the leadership’s commitment to securing the region.

"Confrontations with terrorists, including both raids and clashes, occur daily across northern and eastern Syria, showing the coalition’s resolve to fully eliminate terrorism," he said.

The declining number of new recruits among detained or killed ISIS members underscores the coalition’s success not only on the battlefield but also in countering extremist ideology, he said.

"Those being captured or killed are largely known terrorists," Al-Ali said, adding that this shift reflects the growing resilience of local communities against radicalization.

As ISIS’s influence continues to crumble, coalition and local forces are capitalizing on the momentum, determined to ensure that the group’s remnants are permanently dismantled and that stability endures across liberated regions.