2025 Southern Syria bombings

The 2025 Southern Syria bombings were two attacks carried out by the Islamic State (ISIS) in the al-Safa region of Suwayda Governorate in Southern Syria. The first bombing on May 22 targeted Syrian government forces, while the second, on May 28, targeted fighters from the U.S.-backed Syrian Free Army.

May 2025 ISIS Southern Syria bombings
Part of the Syrian civil war
Location	al-Safa, Suwayda Governorate, Syria
Date	22 and 28 May 2025
Target	Syrian Armed Forces Syrian Free Army
Deaths	1 civilian
Injured	4 soldiers
Perpetrator	Islamic State
First attack against the Syrian transitional government claimed by ISIS.

Background

Although ISIS lost most of its territory in Syria by 2019, it continued to operate in remote desert regions like in southern Syria. Until May 2025, ISIS had mostly attacked Kurdish forces in the northeast. The bombings in Al-Safa marked the group’s first known attacks against the new government and its allies, showing that ISIS still posed a serious threat. ^{[1] [2]}

Bombings

May 22

On May 22, 2025, ISIS detonated a car bomb targeted a vehicle belonging to Syrian government forces in the Al-Safa region of Suwayda Governorate—a remote desert area in southern Syria. The group claimed the bombing killed or wounded seven soldiers, ^[1] however, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the attack on government forces had only killed one civilian and wounded three soldiers. ^[3]

It is the first such attack to be claimed by ISIS against the Syrian transitional government since the fall of the 54-year Assad family's rule in December. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

May 28

On May 28, 2025, ISIS carried out a bombing in the Al-Safa region of Suwayda Governorate, targeting fighters from the U.S.-backed Syrian Free Army. The group used an improvised explosive device (IED) to strike a FSA vehicle, claiming to have killed one fighter and wounded three others. ^{[2] [3]}

See also

• 2018 As-Suwayda attacks
• As-Suwayda offensive (June 2018)
• Southern Syria clashes (April–May 2025)
• Mar Elias Church attack

References

1. "Iran Update, May 30, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
2. "ISIS strikes first blow against Syrian government forces under new leadership". 2025-05-26. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
3. "Islamic State group claims first attack on Syrian government forces since Assad's fall". AP News. 2025-05-30. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
4. Agencies. "ISIS claims first attack on Syrian government forces since Assad's fall". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
5. "ISIL (ISIS) launches first attacks against new Syrian government". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-06-02.