Syrian government foils ISIS plot to attack churches, New Year celebrations

Syrian government foils ISIS plot to attack churches, New Year celebrations
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The Syrian Interior Ministry said on Thursday that it had thwarted an ISIS plot to carry out suicide attacks targeting New Year celebrations and churches, particularly in Aleppo, Arab News reported.

The ministry said in a statement that, as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts and careful monitoring of ISIS cells in cooperation with partner agencies, it had received intelligence indicating plans for suicide attacks targeting New Year celebrations in several provinces, particularly Aleppo, with a focus on churches and civilian gathering areas.

The ministry added that it took preemptive measures, including reinforcing security around churches, deploying mobile and fixed patrols, and setting up checkpoints across the city.

ISIS recently increased its attacks in Syria, and was blamed for an attack last month in Palmyra that killed three Americans.

On Dec. 13, two US soldiers and an American civilian were killed in an attack Washington blamed on a lone ISIS gunman in Palmyra.

In retaliation, American forces struck scores of ISIS targets in Syria.

Syrian authorities have also carried out several operations against ISIS since then, saying on Dec. 25 they had killed a senior leader of the group.