Clashes erupt between ISIS and Iraq’s Hashd al-Shaabi as Turkey deploys troops near Syria and Israeli airstrikes target Damascus.
According to various reports, ISIS is showing signs of resurgence in Iraq, with fresh clashes reported between the militant group and Iraq’s Hashd al-Shaabi in Al-Anbar province. The confrontation underscores the group’s continued threat in Iraq’s border regions, where vast deserts provide cover for its guerrilla operations. Regional stability is further threatened by Turkey’s deployment of troops near its southern border and Israeli airstrikes on Syrian military sites and Iranian-linked targets.
ISIS once controlled large parts of Iraq and Syria but since 2019, it operates as an insurgent force.
The confrontation between ISIS and Hashd al-Shaabi highlights the group’s lingering ability to strike in Iraq’s vulnerable border regions. Details on casualties remain scarce, but the incident has raised fears of a broader insurgency.
Turkish troop deployments along the Syria-Iraq border could lead to a cross-border offensive, potentially displacing communities and creating a power vacuum for ISIS to exploit.
Israel’s strikes on Syrian and Iranian-linked positions add to regional instability, weakening the Assad regime and creating more openings for militant groups like ISIS.
What’s Next?
Experts warn that ISIS thrives in power vacuums, and Iraq’s fragile security situation could allow it to regroup. If Turkish operations displace communities or Syrian regime forces weaken, ISIS may find new opportunities to recruit and expand. Iraq’s government faces mounting pressure to secure its borders and prevent the group from regaining strength.
This convergence of events signals a potential escalation of violence across the region, with Iraq once again at the center of a broader geopolitical struggle.
