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Syrian forces inside Deir Ezzor city wreak havoc on ISIS bases, positions
[AlMasdar] As Syrian forces push towards Deir Ezzor from the eastern direction, army units still besieged inside the city, backed up by Russian airstrikes, have begun to attack ISIS bases, gathering points and positions throughout various districts that held are by the terrorist group.

According to sources, Syrian Army artillery units very recently identified and targeted an ISIS headquarters in Deir Ezzor’s Huwyqah district, completely destroying it.

Nine ISIS field commanders were present in the building at the time it was struck and most of them are believe to have been killed. Four of the commanders have been identified as Abu Omar al-Karbouli, Abu Muhammad al-Shaiti, Abu Mariam al-Taiyanah and Abu Moawyah Idlib.

Moreover, Russian and Syrian jets continue to pound ISIS positions and gathering points throughout the city and its surrounding countryside including Ayash, al-Shamitiyah, al-Masrab, al-Kharitah, al-Tabani and the Panorama area. The airstrikes have killed and injured tens of ISIS militants.

Finally, there are reports that many Islamic State fighters have start fleeing towards Deir Ezzor’s eastern countryside amid Syrian Army reliving forces push in on the city.

Syrian Army liberates last town before Deir Ezzor city

[AlMasdar] The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has reportedly liberated the last town that stands between besieged pro-government forces in Deir Ezzor and eastbound army relief forces attempting to lift the siege on the city.

Several hours ago, reports came in that the strategic crossroad town of Ash-Shula was liberated, bringing vanguard SAA units advancing along the M20 highway to within 25 kilometers of the Panorama area.

Despite numerous reports that Ash-Shula was secured yesterday, this was actually not the case as the Tiger Forces troops who advanced on it decided to set up positions on the northern outskirts of the town and not enter into it.

Whilst it is currently unconfirmed which Syrian Army unit liberated Ash-Shula, with the possibilities being either the Tiger Forces of the 5th Assault Corps, it is most likely the case that it was the later (5th Assault Corps) who in fact secured the town since it is reported that SAA units heading along the M20 highway were the ones to enter it.

In any case, the Tiger Forces held fire control over the town at Mount Neerman since yesterday.

Further north, the SAA is reportedly less than 2 kilometers away from reaching local Deir Ezzor forces at the 137th Brigade Base.

Syrian Army tanks move up to the gates of Deir Ezzor

[AlMasdar] Footage has been released by the Syrian Ministry of Defence (MoD) showing vanguard units of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) punching their way towards the gates of Deir Ezzor city.

The video (below) shows Syrian Army tanks and troops, backed up by Russian gunship support, rolling up the last ISIS positions and defense points en-route to relieve pro-government forces that have been besieged in and around the city for almost three years.

Pro-government forces attempting to reach Deir Ezzor currently stand about five kilometers from the city via the northeastern direction, this is confirmed.

Yesterday there were reports that a deep reconnaissance unit from the SAA’s relieving forces scouted their way to besieged army forces at the 137th Brigade Base on the western outskirts of Deir Ezzor and met up with them.

Even if this is true, the reconnaissance mission does not constitute a proper link-up and thus the siege of Deir Ezzor has not yet been lifted despite some pro-government social media outlets saying otherwise.

Furthermore, the town of Ash-Shula officially remains in the hands of ISIS, with the Syrian Army’s elite Tiger Forces taking up positions on the settlement’s northern outskirts.

Syrian Army liberates strategic town en route to Deir Ezzor City

[AlMasdar] At approximately 12:30 P.M. (Damascus Time), the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) took full control of the strategic town of Kabawjib in the western countryside of the Deir Ezzor Governorate.

Led by elements of the 17th Division and 5th Corps, the Syrian Arab Army attacked Kabawjib’s western perimeter after advancing eastward along the Sukhnah-Deir Ezzor Highway.

Unable to hold their positions inside Kabawjib, the Islamic State was forced to withdraw from the town in order to avoid being overrun by the swarming forces of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA).

Kabawjib was one of the most important supply hubs for the Islamic State in eastern Syria; its loss will likely result in the complete collapse of their western pocket in the Deir Ezzor Governorate.

Two Russian servicemen killed in Syria

[AlMasdar] Two Russian contract soldiers have been killed in Syria by mortar shelling fired by Islamic State terrorists, the Russian defense ministry said on Monday.

According to the ministry, the servicemen were escorting a motor convoy of the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties.

“The motor convoy came under mortar shelling by Islamic State terrorists in the province of Deir ez-Zor. As a result of shelling, one serviceman was killed and another one was badly wounded,” the ministry said.

“The wounded serviceman was promptly taken to hospital but died of deadly wounds, despite efforts taken by medics.”

The men were recommended for state decorations.

Syrian army, allies thrust east to break siege in Deir al-Zor city

[REUTERS] With a sudden lunge through jihadist lines, the Syrian army and its allies on Monday came to within 3 km of relieving the Euphrates city of Deir al-Zor, where Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
 has besieged 93,000 civilians and an army garrison for years.

The advance on the eastern city marks another stinging setback for the once-triumphant Islamic State, fast retreating in both Iraq and Syria as its self-declared caliphate crumbles.

Syrian troops were rapidly approaching the city, reaching a point 3 km (2 miles) away, state television
... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
said. Dozens of trucks loaded with food stood ready to enter the enclave in the city once government forces break the siege, it said.

(For a graphic on battle for control in Syria click tmsnrt.rs/2wyo0lw)

A military media unit run by Hezbollah, a key ally of Damascus, said the advancing forces were heading to the garrison’s camp on the city outskirts.

Deir al-Zor’s provincial governor told Rooters he expected the army could reach the city within hours.

"Islamic State is in confusion. There is no leadership or centralized control," said a commander in the military alliance supporting Syrian Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Lord of the Baath...
Hemmed in on all sides, Islamic State, which ruled over millions of people in both Iraq and Syria at its peak in 2014, is falling back on a last Euphrates stronghold downstream of Deir al-Zor city in the towns of al-Mayadin and al-Bukamal, near the border with Iraq.

But as it has lost its core territory - defeated in Iraq’s djinn-infested Mosul
... the home of a particularly ferocious and hairy djinn...
 now yielding street after street in Syria’s Raqqa - the ultra-hardline group has still been able to launch attacks in the West and maintain a threat in other centers such as Libya.
Posted by: trailing wife 2017-09-05
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=496651