Description: The terrorist group Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack on the orthodox church in Damascus which left 22 people dead and more than 63 injured. According to reports from the Syrian Internal Ministry, an individual approached the church opening fire from an automatic weapon before detonating a suicide bomb vest. The Greek patriarchate of Antioch has condemned the attacks in the strongest possible sense and called for the government’s detailed investigation and prevention of similar attacks happening in the future. The Islamic State is reported to have around 3 thousand active fighters mostly operating in Syria and Iraq with additional 40 thousand detained in prisons and has marked a significant upsurge in activities since Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa struggled to consolidate power after assuming the presidency.
Impact: The gradual resurgence in terrorist activities by the Islamic State comes on the precipice of a spiraling crisis in the Middle East with the war between Israel and Iran. Syria still struggles to consolidate power as numerous militant and terrorist groups hold substantial control over large portions of territories which they are using as operational hubs. The war between Iran and Israel would further enable for terrorist groups to exploit the lack of control and the depleted military forces in Syria to enlarge their territorial control and ground offensives as well as enhancement of the number of terrorist attacks. The region is expected to become severely destabilized in the upcoming period and become a terrorist hotbed for several groups such as the Islamic State and Al Qaeda.