Syria: Suicide bombing kills Islamist militants near Idlib July 12

Event

A dozen members of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, an Islamist militant group linked to the former Nusra Front, were killed on Wednesday, July 12, after a suicide car bomb exploded in the former textile factory near Idlib where they were hiding. The attack comes after the group had spent recent days hunting Islamic State (IS)-linked sleeper cells in the province. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Context

Violence is relatively common in Idlib, which is currently under rebel control. The province is strategically located next to Turkey and is the focus of multiple rebel groups.

Syria is enmeshed in a civil war that started between the government of Bashar al-Assad and opposition forces in March 2011. Today, the conflict in Syria involves many parties, including the Syrian, Iranian, Turkish, and Russian governments, the United States-backed coalition, and various armed groups.

Advice

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