At least 10 soldiers of the Syrian army have lost their lives in a devastating overnight attack carried out by Islamic State (ISIS) militants in the northeastern Raqqa province. The attack, which took place under the cover of darkness, has been reported by the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a respected war monitor, on Tuesday.

According to the SOHR, the assault also left six soldiers injured, and the death toll is anticipated to rise in the coming hours due to the severity of some injuries sustained. The audacious attack saw the militants briefly seize control of targeted locations before setting them ablaze and withdrawing from the area.

ISIS, who suffered a significant territorial defeat in March 2019 during a military operation led by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and supported by a coalition led by the United States, have been resorting to hit-and-run tactics since then. They have been targeting both civilian populations and military installations of both the Syrian regime and the Kurdish-led authority, particularly in the northwest of the country.

SOHR data reveals that clashes in the Syrian desert have claimed the lives of at least 165 Syrian soldiers, 157 civilians, 37 members of pro-Iran militias, and 20 ISIS fighters since the beginning of this year.

The conflict in Syria initially erupted in 2011 following a violent government crackdown on protests. The security situation has remained precarious, with multiple fronts opening up as the crisis deepened. The emergence of ISIS added another layer of complexity, leading to ongoing battles between Kurdish forces and Turkey, as well as Turkish-backed proxies. Furthermore, Israeli strikes on pro-Iran factions, tit-for-tat exchanges between the United States and Iran, and Russia's support for the Syrian government have further complicated the situation.

In a bid to tackle the remnants of ISIS, approximately a thousand US troops remain stationed in Syria. As the country grapples with the persistent turmoil, efforts towards achieving lasting stability remain elusive.

The attack serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by Syrian civilians and military personnel, highlighting the fragility of the region's security landscape.