Syrian security forces have successfully disrupted a sophisticated terrorist plot orchestrated by the Islamic State (Daesh) targeting New Year’s Eve celebrations across multiple governorates. According to an official statement from Syria’s Interior Ministry released Thursday, intelligence indicated planned suicide operations specifically aimed at churches and civilian gathering points in Aleppo and other regions.
The threat materialized in Aleppo’s Bab al-Faraj neighborhood where security personnel identified and engaged a suspected Daesh operative. During interrogation attempts, the suspect opened fire, resulting in the death of one police officer before detonating an explosive device that wounded two additional officers.
This incident represents the latest in a series of escalated attacks by Daesh in government-controlled territories. The group was previously responsible for a December assault in Palmyra that killed three American citizens, prompting retaliatory strikes by U.S. forces against numerous Daesh targets in Syria.
Syrian authorities have intensified counter-terrorism operations since November when President Ahmed al-Sharaa formally committed Syria to the U.S.-led coalition against Daesh during his Washington visit. The Sharaa administration, which assumed power following the December 2024 collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, faces significant security challenges amid ongoing sectarian violence.
Recent months have witnessed tragic incidents including the March massacre of Alawite civilians, July clashes in Druze-majority Sweida province, and a June suicide bombing at a Damascus church that killed 25 worshippers. While Syrian authorities attributed the church attack to Daesh, responsibility was claimed by Saraya Ansar al-Sunna, a shadowy Sunni extremist group that analysts identify as a Daesh front organization.
The successful prevention of the New Year’s Eve attacks demonstrates improved intelligence capabilities but underscores the persistent threat posed by terrorist networks within Syria’s complex security landscape.