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Homs: ISIL nearly besieged in central Syria as SAA troops liberate key mountain
[AlMasdar] The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) continued their march towards Deir Ezzor, today, targeting the Islamic State’s (ISIL) last positions in central Syria.

Backed by the 3rd and 5th legions, the Syrian Arab Army’s Tiger Forces stormed the strategic mountain of Jabal Al-Dahk in the northern countryside of Al-Sukhnah this morning.

Within hours of launching the attack, the Syrian Arab Army had seized two tanks and one BMP, while also dismantling two IEDs in the Jabal Al-Dahk area.

The Syrian Army would take full control of the western half of Jabal Al-Dahk by the early afternoon hours, forcing the Islamic State to retreat to the eastern part of the mountain.

As a result of today’s advance, the Syrian Arab Army is now on the verge of closing the last gap separating their forces in the eastern countryside of the Homs Governorate.

Over 150 Islamist militants surrender in northern Homs as rebel morale hits rock bottom

[AlMasdar] On Wednesday, a total of 177 insurgents turned themselves in to authorities in rural Homs after signing an amnesty decree which saves them from trial in return for putting down their weapons.

All the surrendered Islamist militants originated from the long-standing rebel strongholds of Talbiseh and Rastan, AMN field correspondent Ibrahim Joudeh said. These two towns are known to be under Ahrar Al-Sham’s and Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham’s (HTS) control.

According to another military source close to Al-Masdar News, the Russian Reconciliation Center played a key role in facilitating the deal which was negotiated over several weeks.

In addition, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) took over a large batch of weaponry which the militants had brought with them. Several similar deals have taken place in previous months, suggesting opposition morale to be at an all-time low.

The frontline around the northern Homs pocket has been largely static since 2014. A de-escalation deal currently covers the region although HTS proudly boasted an artillery bombardment of the Al-Zarah Thermal Power Plant yesterday.

Tiger Forces advance to Homs-Deir Ezzor border as ISIS reels back hopelessly

[AlMasdar] Units of the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) elite Tiger Forces operating in northeast Homs Governorate have resumed offensive operations in the direction of the provincial border with Deir Ezzor Governorate.

After securing Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi to the east of the town of al-Taybah yesterday, the Tiger Forces have since continued to advance, driving east yet again, now coming into contact with and storming ISIS positions on the outskirts of the al-Latom al-Sharqiyah and al-Latom al-Gharibyah areas.

According to a military source exclusive to Al-Masdar News, the areas of al-Latom al-Sharqiyah and al-Latom al-Gharibyah should soon be secured by the Tiger Forces given the general state of rout the ISIS militants they come into contact with are in.

ISIL fights for last exit route in Homs as elite Syrian forces push on Deir Ezzor

[AlMasdar] The Islamic State’s (ISIL) last supply in central Syria is under a heavy assault from the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and their allies, making this one of the most important battles to take place inside the country.

Led by the Tiger Forces, alongside the 3rd and 5th Legions, the Syrian Arab Army has made major headway in the northeastern countryside of the Homs Governorate these last few days, liberating several sites between the strategic towns of Resafa (Al-Raqqa) and Al-Sukhnah (Homs).

While ISIL is throwing everything they have at the Syrian Army, they are struggling to hold the gap that is separating the latter’s forces in central Syria.

Earlier this morning, the Syrian Arab Army stormed the terrorist group’s defenses at Al-Dahl Mountain, which is the location of the Islamic State’s last positions between this gap.

According to a military source in Palmyra, the Syrian Arab Army is attempting to force the remaining Islamic State militants to retreat from Al-Dahl Mountain; however, thus far, the terrorist group has refused to withdraw from the area due to its imperative supply line that feeds its forces in northeast Homs.

Elite ISIS Hunters capture terrorist bunker in central Syria: video

[AlMasdar] The elite pro-government ISIS Hunters carried out another special operation in central Syria, capturing an Islamic State (ISIS) bunker in the eastern countryside of the Homs Governorate.
Video of bunker can be seen at the link.
Upon entering the terrorist group’s bunker, the ISIS Hunter’s discovered a spacious corridor that protected the Islamic State fighters from artillery shells and missiles.

The terrorist group also had prepared food, drugs, Wahhabi books printed from Kuwait, and telecommunication devices all stored in this well-ventilated bunker.

ISIS Hunters were filmed entering and capturing the terrorist group’s bunker by their official media wing over the weekend; it was one of the many operations they have carried out across central Syria.

Syrian Army to encircle one of the largest oil fields in central Syria – Map update
Map can be seen at link.
[AlMasdar] With ISIS lines throughout central Syria collapsing before a relentless onslaught by pro-government forces, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) is now eyeing-out to secure one of the largest oil fields in the region that has been under the control of the terrorist group since its successful Palmyra offensive in December 2016.

After capturing the strategic town of Huwaysis in central Homs Governorate two days, the SAA has continued advancing southwest of the al-Sha’er mountain chain securing, as of today, the hilltops of Abedin, Qart al-Aridah, Qart al-Taheen and Qubour al-Shaalan; smaller, unnamed hills east of Qart al-Aridah have also been secured.

By this advance, the SAA has now flanked the al-Mahr Oil Field (one of the largest in central Syria) from three axes, leaving only one safe route for ISIS to retreat from. The oil field and its surrounding area area expected to be liberated very soon.

Click here to see an interactive map of Syria and Iraq.

Syrian Army finally begins big push to Deir Ezzor via al-Sukhnah: video

[AlMasdar] Syrian Arab Army (SAA) forces, led by the elite 800th Regiment of the Republican Guard, have advanced deep into the desert countryside east of the strategic town of al-Sukhnah, slicing their way through ISIS defenses as they push towards Deir Ezzor Governorate.

With all eyes focused north of al-Sukhnah where 5th Assault Corps is poised to link up with units of the elite Tiger Forces pushing from southern Raqqa, the sudden advance made on this new axis east of the town late yesterday comes as a genuine surprise.

The advance saw the SAA secure road and hilltops alongside Sukhnah-Deir Ezzor highway (M20) to a depth of twenty kilometers.

ISIS by no means surrendered the land it lost yesterday without a fight and in attempting (but failing) to repel army forces, the terrorist groups ended up losing four (4) armed Toyota pickups destroyed and around a dozen fighters killed.

Furthermore the terrorist group threw two vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED) at advancing SAA units, however army troops managed to destroy both car bombs before they could reach their targets.
Posted by: trailing wife 2017-08-24
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=495719