The number of ISIS attacks are on pace to double in Iraq and Syria this year compared to 2023 as the jihadist group is attempting to "reconstitute" its presence in the two countries, according the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Wednesday.
ISIS, also known as the Islamic State, is designated a terrorist group by the U.S. According to the Wilson Center think tank, ISIS seized power throughout 2013 and 2014 in Syria and Iraq, and at its most powerful, the group controlled 40 percent of Iraq and around one-third of Syrian territory. However, An international coalition led by the United States has since dismantled ISIS' territorial control in Iraq and Syria, but both countries still have ISIS sleeper cells.
In the first half of 2024, ISIS claimed responsibility for 153 attacks across the two countries, according to a CENTCOM statement. This marks a significant increase from the 121 attacks reported in 2023.
"The increase in attacks indicates ISIS is attempting to reconstitute following several years of decreased capability," CENTCOM said. "To continue the effort to defeat ISIS and prevent its ability to conduct external attacks, United States Central Command, along with our Defeat ISIS partners, Iraqi Security Forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces, conducted 196 Defeat ISIS Missions resulting in 44 ISIS operatives killed and 166 detained in the first half of 2024."
Newsweek reached out to U.S. Central Command on Wednesday via email for further comment.
According to CENTCOM, 137 partnered operations in Iraq resulted in 30 ISIS operatives killed and 74 ISIS operatives detained. In Syria, 59 operations conducted alongside the Syrian Democratic Forces and other partners resulted in 14 ISIS operatives killed and 92 ISIS operatives detained.
The Associated Press (AP) reported that Iraqi officials have stated they can manage the ISIS threat independently and have initiated discussions with the U.S. to reduce the U.S.-led coalition's military presence in the country.
CENTCOM, meanwhile, advocates for keeping the coalition's presence in Iraq and Syria.
"The global enduring defeat of ISIS relies on combined efforts of the Coalition and partners to remove key leaders from the battlefield..." General Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of CENTCOM, said in a statement. "We continue to focus our efforts on specifically targeting those members of ISIS who are seeking to conduct external operations outside of Iraq and Syria and those ISIS members attempting to break out ISIS members in detention in an attempt to reconstitute their forces."
Meanwhile, the increase in attacks comes as Kurdish-led authorities in northeastern Syria issued a general amnesty on Wednesday, according to the AP. This amnesty could see the release of hundreds of Syrians detained by the Syrian Democratic Forces for their involvement with ISIS.
The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria announced that life sentences would be reduced to 15 years, with exemptions for detainees with incurable diseases or those aged 75 and older, the AP said. The amnesty excludes high-ranking ISIS officials, combatants who fought against the SDF, and those who executed deadly attacks with explosives.
The SDF is currently detaining over 10,000 ISIS fighters in approximately two dozen facilities.
Previously speaking to Newsweek in 2023, Tom Wilson, director of policy at the U.K.-based Counter Extremism Group, warned of a re-emergence of ISIS in Syria and Iraq.
Islamic State and Al-Qaeda "have been strengthening their global network, working with affiliates to enhance their activities in Western countries," Wilson said.
He continued, "Islamic State is going to continue to seek to encourage others to carry out attacks on its behalf. If it does reassert itself as a force in Syria and the wider region, we should expect to see this capitalized on in the group's propaganda, bolstering its ability to inspire attacks."
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