Syria: Bomb targets bus in Deir Al-Zor province February 21

Event

Around 20 people were killed after a bomb exploded near a minibus traveling through Al-Shahil (Deir Al-Zor province) on Thursday, February 21. According to local reports, the bus was carrying workers from the nearby al-Omar oil field. At least two fighters from the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were also killed in the blast. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Islamic State (IS) is suspected of carrying out the bombing. Further attacks targeting civilians and the SDF in the area are possible in the near term.

Context

The SDF is a US-backed umbrella group of militias, led by the primarily Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), and a belligerent in the Syrian Civil War. The SDF has ousted IS from several areas formerly under its control, notably including Raqqa, Al-Tabqah, and Manbij. IS has lost most of the territory it once controlled in Iraq and Syria after suffering major military defeats following its 2014 offensive.

To date, the Syrian Civil War - which began in 2011 - involves many parties, including the Syrian government, the Russian government, the Iranian government, the Turkish government, a US-led coalition, and numerous armed groups on the ground (including the Islamic State) with competing goals

Advice

Due to extremely poor security conditions, Western governments generally advise against all travel to Syria, with some banning travel to the country. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to any travel to Syria.