Holiday Policing Under Threat

A suicide bombing that targeted a police patrol in Aleppo late Wednesday has underscored the persistent security risks facing Syria’s postwar authorities, particularly during high-profile public events. According to Syrian state media, one police officer was killed and several others were injured when an attacker detonated an explosives belt in the Bab al-Faraj area of the northern city while security forces were conducting New Year’s Eve patrols.

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that the attack occurred as part of routine policing duties aimed at securing celebrations marking the start of the new year. Aleppo Governor Azam al-Gharib said internal security forces were deployed across the city to maintain order when the incident took place, highlighting the vulnerability of patrol units operating in crowded urban areas.

“Ideological or Organisational Background”

State-run Al-Ikhbariya TV, citing a security source, said the attacker detonated himself while being searched after raising suspicion among officers. According to the Interior Ministry, security personnel had identified the suspect and moved to arrest him. During the operation, one officer physically restrained the individual, at which point the explosives belt was triggered.

Nour al-Din al-Baba, a spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, said preliminary findings suggested the attacker had “an ideological or organisational background linked to the terrorist organization ISIS.” He told Al-Ikhbariya that investigations were ongoing to determine the suspect’s identity and possible network connections. No group has formally claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Counterterrorism Amid Political Transition

The Aleppo attack comes amid intensified counterterrorism efforts following Syria’s political transition after former president Bashar al-Assad was toppled in late 2024, ending a 13-year civil war.

Syrian authorities have also expanded cooperation with U.S. forces in recent months. Earlier in December, two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed in Syria when a suspected ISIS attacker targeted a joint American-Syrian convoy. In response, the U.S. military launched large-scale strikes against dozens of ISIS targets across the country, according to official statements.