Syria Launches Major Anti-ISIS Sweep After Attack on US Patrol

Syrian military forces have begun a large security operation against ISIS militants in the countryside of Homs province. The action comes after an attack targeted a joint Syrian and US military patrol. According to Syrian state media, the operation is a direct response to the earlier incident near the historic city of Palmyra. The report stated that ISIS fighters attacked the joint patrol. The security sweep aims to hunt down ISIS terrorists and destroy their hideouts in the vast desert region. This area has seen a recent increase in insurgent activity. ISIS lost its final territory in Syria in 2019 but continues to carry out deadly guerrilla attacks. Both Syrian government forces and US-backed Kurdish fighters conduct regular patrols against the remaining threat.