The Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack that killed multiple security personnel in Idlib province on December 14, terrorism analyst Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi stated in an X post over the past hour. Al-Tamimi linked to a new article on his website archiving the Islamic State claim. The update occurred during the 59-minute reporting window ending at 11:15 a.m. UTC on December 15. Earlier this morning, al-Tamimi noted on X that the Islamic State does not claim every attack immediately, countering assertions linking the group to Sunday's Palmyra attack absent a claim, according to his previous statement cited in reports ending at 10:15 a.m. UTC. In related Syrian developments over the past hour, an X post by Faytuks Network cited The Guardian reporting that deposed President Bashar al-Assad is learning Russian and ophthalmology studies in Moscow. Asma al-Assad is stable after experimental cancer treatment. Some of Assad's children struggle with their lost status and travel between Russia and the UAE, which declined their permanent residency request. Russian officials regard Assad as politically irrelevant and keep him isolated, The Guardian stated. The family transferred $250 million to Russia in 2018-2019 and owns 20 luxury apartments in Moscow City, per the earlier Guardian report emerging this morning.
