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Syria: Heavy Clashes in Deir Ezzor Following Sudden Regime Attack
[AAWSAT] In a surprise attack on Sunday, fierce battles broke out in Deir Ezzor countryside, east Syria, between Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and regime forces, which led to the latter's control of four villages, before SDF succeeded in regaining it backed by Coalition air force.SDF considered the attack as an "obstruction of the battle it is preparing to liberate the remaining areas under ISIS control." Meanwhile, ...back at the desert island, Bert was realizing to his horror that he'd had only one bottle for one message, and he'd forgotten to include a return address... Head of Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) Rami Abdel Rahman told Agence La Belle France-Presse: "The regime's aim is to protect Deir Ezzor city by pushing back SDF fighters from the eastern bank." Incidents between both sides have occurred in the past, but Abdel Rahman said it was the first time the regime had launched an operation to seize territory from the SDF. State news agency SANA said the army seized control over four villages in the eastern province, where SDF alliance has been. After hours of fighting in the region, SDF announced it liberated the villages, while the Observatory said it had recovered three out of the four. Ahmed Ramdan, an activist of EuphratesPost.com, told Asharq al-Awsat that Kurdish forces had retrieved most of the villages supported by the Coalition and military reinforcements. In a statement, SDF asserted the villages had been restored "after the regime and its militias - backed by Russia - launched an attack on our sites in Deir Ezzor countryside" aiming to disrupt operation Island Storm and fight on terrorism. The Forces pointed out to the ongoing attempts of the regime to advance towards the villages. Military expert Mamoun Abu Nawar, set this attack within the context of the Russian messages to the US, which will continue between the two parties until a solution is found on the Syrian crisis. He explained to Asharq al-Awsat that "Moscow's message to Washington is that its presence in this region must come to an end, at a time US preferred not to escalate by not resorting to direct military response, as happened earlier, because the most important goal is to reduce the capabilities and control of the regime." Posted by: Fred 2018-05-01 |
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