After years of silence, the Islamic State (IS) is showing signs of resurgence in Syria and Iraq. With the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and ongoing instability in the region, the extremist group is quietly reactivating sleeper cells, recruiting fighters, and attempting to stage deadly attacks — though their efforts are currently being held in check.
IS Regroups in the Shadows
According to over 20 sources including regional officials, diplomats, and Western security analysts, IS has begun rebuilding its presence by dispatching operatives, redistributing weapons, and spreading propaganda. In Syria’s northeast and Iraq’s rugged terrain, the group has reportedly activated fighters who had been lying low for years.
In one striking example, two IS envoys sent from Raqqa in Syria to northern Iraq were captured in early December 2024. Thanks to intelligence gathered from them, Iraqi forces prevented a planned suicide bombing at a busy restaurant in Daquq. “They’re testing the waters, emboldened by the chaos in Syria,” said Colonel Abdul Ameer al-Bayati of the Iraqi Army’s 8th Division.
Foiled Plots, Fewer Attacks
While the group’s ambition is growing, its impact remains limited. Security agencies in both countries claim to have thwarted at least a dozen major IS plots this year. The number of successful attacks has also dropped: only 38 claims in Syria and 4 in Iraq during the first five months of 2025 — a sharp decline from last year.
The U.S.-led coalition’s airstrikes and intelligence efforts continue to disrupt IS hideouts, and both Iraq and Syria are deploying advanced technologies like drones to detect threats before they escalate.
A Fragile New Government Faces Pressure
Syria’s new leader, Islamist president Ahmed al-Sharaa, has been trying to unify the war-torn nation after 13 years of conflict. Despite the fall of Assad and U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to ease sanctions, Sharaa faces mounting pressure to prevent IS from regaining ground. Trump and other Western leaders have urged him to take over security at key detention centers holding over 9,000 suspected IS fighters and their families.
However, Syria’s interim government is stretched thin. Attacks by Assad loyalists, Israeli airstrikes, sectarian violence, and clashes with Kurdish and Turkish-backed forces are testing its stability.
The Global Concern
Officials in Europe are alarmed by reports of foreign fighters once again traveling to Syria. Though it’s unclear which groups they are joining, this is the first significant movement of extremists into the region in years. IS has also condemned Sharaa’s engagement with the West, using it as a recruitment tactic.
While IS no longer controls territory as it did between 2014–2017, experts warn against underestimating its resilience. The group thrives in power vacuums, and the current chaos presents the perfect opportunity.
Bottom Line
IS isn’t back in full force — yet. But the ingredients for its resurgence are brewing. Governments in the region and around the world must remain alert to prevent history from repeating itself.
