Deir Ezzur: ISIL Suffering Lack of Fighters in Battle against Syrian Army

“We have seen a big drop in Daesh (ISIL) attacks in Deir Ezzur. They used to attack on a daily basis before the battle in Raqqa. Now, they just conduct hit-and-run attacks,” the source said.

The Syrian Special forces deployed in Southern Raqqa and the Army soldiers deployed in Eastern Homs have started a joint anti-ISIL operation to drive terrorists out of the strategic town of al-Sukhnah that is considered as the main gate to Deir Ezzur city.

Syrian special troops plan to expand Southward from the key town of al-Rasafeh in order to press ISIL’s positions as far South as the town of al-Sukhnah in Eastern Homs.

As the Tiger Forces are pushing South to Homs province, it will allow their allies from the Desert Hawks Brigade to blitz the ISIL’s positions in the Eastern parts of Hama province.

Meantime, the army forces continue massive operations from Western al-Sukhnah – the Eastern parts of the ancient city of Palmyra (Tadmur) – towards the last ISIL stronghold in Homs.

The Syrian army units and Hezbollah fighters also continued their operations to reach the strategic town of al-Sukhnah, the Takfiri terrorist group’s last defense lines directly West of the city of Deir Ezzur, deploying their forces just a few kilometer away from the vital bastion.

A field source announced the troops’ massive operation in Eastern Homs and Hama, saying that driving the ISIL out of Aqayrabat and al-Sukhnah means the end of the terrorist group’s presence in Central Syria.

Another source said that the army has dispatched more heavy equipment to Arak region in Eastern Homs to intensify attacks on ISIL’s defense lines in al-Sukhnah.

The source further added that following ISIL’s defeats in Aleppo and Raqqa provinces, the fresh army operation that will cover Eastern Hama and Homs and the entire Deir Ezzur province is so important that the army would dispatch more forces and equipment to advance towards Deir Ezzur with the back up of the Russian Air Force.

Al-Sukhnah is the last bastion of ISIL fighters in Homs and the last strategic barrier which stands before pro-government forces can lift the siege of Deir Ezzur.

Also, according to a report, Damascus is on the verge of imposing full control over the central parts of the war-hit country after 3 and a half years as ISIL withdrew from Aleppo province and along with the Syrian Army troops’ advances in Western Raqqa.

A source said that following the army’s control over Aleppo and its forces’ continued advances in Western Raqqa, and Eastern Homs and Hama, its now seems that the central parts of the country will soon be cleaned of terrorists after three and a half years of occupation.

The sources added that the army has stopped its anti-terrorism operation in Northern Hama to prepare the region as a platform for the liberation operations in the Eastern direction of al-Salamiyah city that has been a main bastion of ISIL and the town of Aqayrabat that is considered a gate to Eastern Homs.

In the meantime, the army men’s operation in Homs is underway, while recapturing the town of al-Sukhnah in the Eastern direction of the ancient city of Palmyra will pave the way for entering Deir Ezzur province.

Another military source said that with the liberation of the regions East of al-Salamiyah and recapturing of the remaining regions in Northeastern Homs the army forces will be capable of imposing full control over the central part of the country.

Military experts said the recent advances of the Syrian Army troops at border with Iraq towards the ISIL-held town of Albu Kamal were of vital importance, showing that the pro-government forces will soon drive terrorists out of the war-hit country.

Amin Hatit pointed to the army’s advances against terrorists from the country’s border with Iraq towards North, and said that the army’s control over the large region between Deir Ezzur city and the town of Albu Kamal will pave the ground for the restoration of complete tranquility and security to Palmyra, energy-rich regions and Badiyeh (desert).

He further said that the joint operation of the Syrian and Iraqi forces will benefit both countries, adding that the Raqqa triangle towards Palmyra that covers a large region up to Deir Ezzur and Albu Kamal is a strategic triangle that can be used for the overall liberation operation in Syria.

Hatit underscored the strategic importance of Deir Ezzur that is located between Iraq and Syria, saying the army expects two important objectives from the liberation operation of Deir Ezzur. “First foiling the US plan to access central parts of Syria and Iraq and the second, completing its anti-terrorism operation and liberating all Syrian territories.”

Relevant reports said on Thursday that the army units launched heavy artillery and missile attacks on ISIL hideouts in the western parts of the regions near the Brigade 137, al-Jubaileh, al-Hawiqeh, areas near Panorama and Qeta al-Ta’mineh region, smashing one of the militants’ command centers and several of their military vehicles.

A number of ISIL terrorists were also killed in the operation.

Meantime, the Syrian air force heavily pounded the ISIL moves and positions near Deir Ezzur airbase, al-Thardah region and the districts of al-Arafi, al-Arazi, al-Jabileh, al-Sina’ah and al-Hamidiyeh as well as the villages of al-Janineh and al-Jafrah and the regions near the cemetery, inflicting tens of casualties on the terrorists.

Also, the local sources said that several ISIL commanders, including Abdolrazzaq al-Amir, Ahmed al-Amir, Fahad al-Amir and Samer Khalaf al-Nasser al-Mashhadani, have fled the village of Zabiyan and al-Mayadeen city in Eastern Deir Ezzur.