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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Syrian forces continue advance in Deir Ezzor |
| 2017-07-28 |
| [ARA News] The Syrian army forces on Thursday made new gains in the eastern province of Deir ez-Zor after heavy clashes with Islamic State’s (ISIS) fighters. The pro-Assad troops took over several villages in the countryside of Deir ez-Zor and have reached the strategic al-Sukhna town in the province. “The army has reached the al-Sukhna suburb in western Deir ez-Zor after bombing major ISIS positions in the area,” local media activist Anwar Abdulbari told ARA News. Dozens of ISIS militants were reported dead in Thursday’s clashes. Al-Sukhna is a key defence line for ISIS militants in Deir ez-Zor province, near the border with Iraq. “ISIS is trying to fortify the central city of Deir ez-Zor from the southwest, using trenches and laying hundreds of landmines to impede the Syrian army progress,” Abdulbari reported. In the meantime, the ISIS media centre in Raqqa reported that their fighters have carried out three suicide attacks south of the province, targeting Syrian government forces. At least 12 Syrian soldiers were reportedly killed in the attack. Syrian forces advance in Homs [AlManar] Syrian army forces are nearing the last major town held by ISIL terrorists in Homs province, a military source said on Thursday. The source said combat operations would accelerate towards the town of al-Sukhna, some 50 km from the administrative frontier of Deir Ezzor province, where ISIL has redeployed many fighters after losing ground in Syria and Iraq. “Capturing al-Sukhna means opening the door and path for forces to move to Deir Ezzor directly,” the source told Reuters, adding that the military had captured positions 8 km southwest of the town on Wednesday evening. ISIL is losing ground fast in Syria to separate campaigns waged by the Russian-backed Syrian government on the one hand, and to U.S.-backed Kurdish forces and their allies on the other. Army forces, backed by allied forces, have also been advancing against ISIL in Hama province and in southern areas of Raqqa province. Syrian Army forces have been approaching al-Sukhna gradually since capturing the ancient city of Palmyra, some 50 km away, in March. “It is natural that combat operations escalate in this direction and take on a stronger and faster nature,” the source said, adding that ISIL had concentrated forces in al-Sukhna. |
| Posted by:badanov |