By Mukesh 
The Islamic State claimed responsibility on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) for an attack in eastern Syria that killed two Syrian army soldiers, the jihadist group’s first deadly operation against the Syrian government since February.
Monday’s (May 11, 2026) attack in the eastern province of Hasakah points to the lingering threat posed by the Islamic State as President Ahmed al-Sharaa seeks to consolidate government authority over the country, nearly 1-1/2 years after he ousted Mr. Bashar al-Assad.
The Syrian state news agency SANA reported on Monday (May 11, 2026) that two Syrian army soldiers were killed and others wounded in an attack by unknown assailants on a bus in the Hasakah countryside.
Islamic State, in a brief statement posted on its Amaq News Agency, said its fighters had killed and wounded six members of “the apostate Syrian army” during an ambush in the same area.
The Islamic State controlled around a quarter or more of Syria at the peak of its power during the Syrian civil war a decade ago, before it was beaten out of the territory by a U.S.-led coalition and other foes.
Ahmed al-Sharaa battled the Islamic State when he was leader of the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front during the civil war. Sharaa severed ties with al Qaeda in 2016.
The Syrian government under Mr. Sharaa last year joined the U.S.-led coalition to combat the Islamic State.
The Islamic State, in February, declared a new phase of operations against Mr. Sharaa’s government and carried out a spate of attacks, including one that killed four Syrian government security personnel near Raqqa city.