Five years after the fall of its self-proclaimed caliphate, the Islamic State (ISIS) is showing alarming signs of resurgence in the vast, arid expanses of Syria and Iraq. U.S. special forces, working in close cooperation with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), are engaged in a largely unpublicized campaign to contain this renewed threat.
ISIS has dramatically escalated its activities in 2024, doubling its attacks in the region. The militant group has targeted security checkpoints, detonated car bombs, and plotted ambitious prison breaks aimed at freeing thousands of detained fighters. Gen. Rohilat Afrin, co-commander of the SDF, grimly assesses that "this year has been the worst year since we defeated Islamic State."
In response, the U.S. has intensified its counterterrorism efforts. American aircraft conduct precision airstrikes and provide crucial real-time aerial surveillance for SDF ground operations. Elite U.S. troops, while typically maintaining a safe distance from direct combat, occasionally undertake high-risk missions to eliminate or capture senior ISIS leaders.
The challenge posed by ISIS in 2024 differs significantly from its previous incarnation. Rather than launching large-scale offensives with tanks and truck-mounted machine guns, the group now operates in smaller, more elusive cells armed with rifles and improvised explosive devices. This shift in tactics, combined with diplomatic uncertainties and the looming U.S. elections, has complicated the coalition's response.
U.S. forces, currently numbering 900 in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq, have supported numerous operations this year. In the first seven months of 2024, SDF personnel reported capturing 233 suspected ISIS fighters in 28 separate operations. American aircraft have conducted three strikes on ISIS targets in Syria and one in Iraq, a notable increase from the previous year.
However, the specter of potential U.S. withdrawal haunts the mission. SDF officials warn of catastrophic consequences if American troops depart, with Brig. Gen. Ali al-Hassan, spokesman for northeast Syria's U.S.-allied internal-security force, predicting "chaos like we've never seen before."
The situation is further complicated by the region's complex geopolitical dynamics. Turkey, a NATO member, regularly conducts airstrikes against the SDF, viewing the Kurdish-led force as a terrorist organization. Meanwhile, Russian forces support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his battles against both the SDF and ISIS. Iran-backed militias escalate the situation further, routinely launching drone attacks on U.S. bases in the area.
As ISIS attempts to rebuild its strength, the international community faces difficult questions about long-term strategy in a region marked by shifting alliances and persistent instability.
The ongoing efforts of U.S. and SDF forces lay testimony to the enduring nature of the threat posed by ISIS, even years after its territorial defeat.
* WSJ contributed to this article.