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By Andre Pienaar
The attack
The Syrian Popular Resistance (SPR) announced that it and “allied forces” had targeted US positions south of Hasakah City with unspecified weapons. Syrian social media channels circulated videos showing air defence systems activating over al Shaddadi Base in Hasakah Province, suggesting US troops engaged in defensive fire.
The United States has not confirmed the incident. Analysts caution that neither the SPR’s claim nor the footage can yet be independently verified.
Militia’s evolution
Formed in December 2024, immediately after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, the SPR emerged to oppose the Syrian transitional government. Until now, its operations had been limited to regime or transitional-government targets.
- March 2025: The SPR claimed responsibility for poisoning Syrian government soldiers with a “biological weapon”.
- August 2025: The group warned it would expand its operational reach, explicitly naming the US, Israel, and the transitional government as future targets.
This week’s alleged strike on US forces fulfils that threat.
Ideological alignment
The SPR has made no secret of its ideological affinities. It has:
- Venerated former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and slain IRGC Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.
- Celebrated Iran’s June 2025 missile strike on US forces in Qatar.
- Routinely amplified pro-Assad and anti-US/Israel narratives across its media channels.
These positions place the group firmly within the Iranian-backed Axis of Resistance, which includes Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Kata’ib Hezbollah in Iraq.
US posture and regional dynamics
Unspecified US officials told al-Monitor on 02 October that Washington has paused its planned troop reduction in Syria, citing instability within the transitional government.
If confirmed, the 2 October attack will likely bolster calls in Washington to maintain, or even reinforce, the US presence in northeastern Syria. It also underscores Iran’s strategy of using proxy militias to stretch US forces across multiple fronts, from Iraq to the Gulf to Syria.
Strategic outlook
The SPR’s decision to claim an attack on US forces marks a turning point in Syria’s post-Assad insurgency. It transforms the militia from a localised spoiler into a regional actor aligned with Tehran’s broader confrontation with Washington.
Analysts warn that if such attacks continue, US retaliation in Hasakah could draw American forces into a new cycle of escalation, one that widens the already unstable security environment in Syria and strengthens Iran’s hand.
Exhibit box: timeline of SPR activity (2024–2025)
- Dec 2024 – SPR forms after Assad’s fall.
- Mar 2025 – Claims “biological weapon” poisoning of Syrian government troops.
- Aug 2025 – Declares expansion of target bank to include US and Israel.
- Oct 2025 – Claims first attack on US base near Hasakah.
“The Syrian Popular Resistance’s first strike on US forces signals a dangerous new phase in Syria’s conflict.”
