2020 Deir ez-Zor ambush

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2020 Deir ez-Zor ambush
Part of the Syrian civil war
Location of Deir ez-Zor Governorate in Syria
LocationDeir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria
Date30 December 2020
Attack type
Ambush
Deaths39
Injured15+
PerpetratorIslamic State of Iraq and the Levant

On 30 December 2020, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) forces ambushed a Syrian government troop convoy killing between 28 and 39 people[1] and injuring at least 15.[2]

Background[edit]

After the 2017 ISIL defeat in the area, ISIL changed to insurgency tactics. Cells and raiding parties placed improvised explosive devices (IED) at towns and checkpoints, and ambushed convoys.[3]

Ambush[edit]

The 2020 Deir ez-Zor ambush was an ISIL ambush on the Homs-Deir ez-Zor road. The ambush targeted three busses carrying 4th Division soldiers on their way back home to celebrate the new Year. The ambush started when ISIL set up a fake checkpoint in order to stop the convoy.[4] ISIL attacked the convoy using multiple IEDs and heavy weapons, destroying one of the three buses, leaving 39 dead including eight officers of the Syrian military and at least 15 injured. Two busses managed to escape the ambush and make it back safely.[5][6][7][8]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Sources differ on the numbers
  2. ^ "Syrian state media says 28 killed in bus ambush in Deir al-Zor". Reuters. 2020-12-30. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  3. ^ Hassan, Hassan (September 2018). "OUT OF THE DESERT ISIS'S STRATEGY FOR A LONG WAR" (PDF). Middle East Institute. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-11-11. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  4. ^ McKernan, Bethan (31 December 2020). "Syria: Dozens killed in Isis bus attack". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2020-12-31.
  5. ^ "Highest death toll of regime forces in ISIS' attacks this year. 37 regime soldiers killed in attack on military buses in Syrian desert •". The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. December 30, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-12-30.
  6. ^ "ISIS resurgence. Syrian desert's ambush brings death toll of regime forces and loyalists in attacks to nearly 820 in 2020". The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. December 31, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-12-31.
  7. ^ "ISIS resurgence. 30 regime soldiers killed in ambush on military buses in Syrian desert, while returning home to spend New Year holidays". The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. December 30, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-12-30.
  8. ^ "Islamic State claims bus attack in Syria that killed at least 39 soldiers". i24 News. December 31, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-12-31.