The Islamic State (IS) on Saturday called on its members to fight against the government of Ahmed al-Shara in Syria. The appeal came through an audio message from IS spokesperson Abu Huzaifa al-Ansari, marking his first public statement in nearly two years. In the pre-recorded message released online, al-Ansari urged IS fighters to prioritize combat against the new Syrian administration, its secular government, and the National Army.

Al-Ansari’s previous message was released in January 2024, when he had called for attacks in retaliation for Israeli strikes in Gaza. The current Syrian interim government took power in December 2024 after the ouster of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad. Ahmed al-Shara, who previously had ties with al-Qaeda, has since sought to project a more moderate image.

The report also noted that Syrian forces recently advanced against Kurdish fighters, raising questions about the fate of IS detainees held in Kurdish-controlled areas. Amid this uncertainty, the United States transferred more than 5,700 IS prisoners from Syria to Iraqi prisons.