Syria in Last 24 Hours: Army Purges Terrorists from More Key Heights in Damascus Countryside
The army units also pushed back terrorists from their positions and advanced further into suburbs of Damascus.
The Syrian troops killed tens of terrorists and injured dozens more in fierce clashes over controlling of the strategic regions. They also destroyed military equipment of the terrorists.
The Syrian army also continued its advances in other key provinces across Syria.
Damascus
The Syrian Army forces continued the second phase of al-Fajr al-Kobra (the Grand Dawn) anti-terrorism operation in Badiyeh (desert) and managed to impose control over several heights in regions near al-Seen military airport.
The army men kicked off the second phase of al-Fajar al-Kobra operation South of the road that connects al-Seen airbase to Zaza region and managed to advance against terrorists from Tal (hill) Deco towards Tal Roqeileh, Tal al-Baqar and Tal al-A’saf and the regions of Khirbet al-Ambashi and al-Kera’ah.
The army soldiers further drove terrorists out of the mountain between Tal Deco and Tal Roqeileh up to Tal Risheh.
The army units also won back Tal Risheh Dam, Jabal (mount) Mahkoul, Baer Makhour and Jabal Sis South of al-Seen airbase.
The Army had managed to secure over 5,000 square kilometers of the Syrian Desert from the clutches of ISIL during the first stage of al-Fajr al-Kobra operation that is the largest swathes of land won back from ISIL since 2011 and includes Southern Homs.
In the meantime, the army forces managed to foil terrorists’ plan to join Badiyeh (desert) al-Sham to Badiyeh of Homs to Eastern Qalamoun, repelling ISIL’s threats to al-Seen airport.
Earlier reports said that the army troops continued their anti-terrorism operation from four directions in Ein Terma region in Eastern Ghouta and managed to seize control over more lands.
The army men stormed terrorists’ defense lines from four directions and advanced from their positions Southeast of Kaziyeh towards al-Kheir Bazaar West of Ein Terma Wadi (desert), capturing a number of buildings.
The army soldiers also reached the center of the Ein Terma-Jobar-Zmelka Triangle after a series of fierce clashes with the militants of Faylaq al-Rahman.
According to a military source, the army is now attempting to secure the Northern part of the Ein Terma-Jobar-Zmelka Triangle in order to cut off Faylaq al-Rahman’s supply route in the suburb.
Deir Ezzur
The Syrian Special forces deployed in Southern Raqqa and the Army soldiers deployed in Eastern Homs are preparing to launch 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.
A battlefield source said the Syrian Special Forces are not looking to increase their presence in Raqqa province; “instead, they have plans to push South from the town of al-Rasafeh in Southern Raqqa towards al-Sukhnah in Eastern Homs”.
The source added that the Syrian Armed Forces plan to launch their offensive from two different fronts in order to force the ISIL to retreat from the key town near the Deir Ezzur border.
The source went on to say that the second front of the army operation starts from the Eastern direction of the ancient city of Palmyra (Tadmur) toward West of al-Sukhnah, adding that the army forces are now advancing rapidly against terrorists in the front.
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.
Earlier reports said that the army men and the Lebanese Hezbollah fighters, who had captured the heights overlooking al-Heil oilfield and had laid siege on the ISIL in the strategic region, managed to advance against ISIL in the depth of Badiyeh (desert) and seized full control over a large part of al-Heil oilfield near the town of al-Sukhnah.
In the meantime, the Russian and Syrian fighter jets carried out repeated attacks on ISIL’s defense lines in al-Heil, killing a number of terrorists.
According to reports, a few dozens more of ISIL terrorists have remained in the region, and the army soldiers seem to have an easy job to move fast towards al-Sukhnah.
Field reports also said that the pro-government forces are engaged in a military operation to liberate the oil-rich town of al-Sukhnah from ISIL.
Al-Sukhnah is the last bastion of ISIL fighters in Homs and the last strategic barrier which stands before pro-government forces can lifting the siege of Deir Ezzur.
Hama
The Syrian Army has forwarded a large number of fresh soldiers and a large volume of modern military equipment to Eastern Hama to intensify attacks on ISIL terrorists.
The army’s move to send more troops and equipment to Hama came after a massive convoy of reinforcements comprised of Desert Hawks arrived in Eastern Hama province in recent days to take part in the anti-ISIL operation in Eastern Salamiyah.
Meantime, the Russian strategic bombers conducted strikes on ISIL’s positions near the town of Aqayrabat near the border of Hama and Homs provinces.
The Russian warplanes used modern X-101 strategic cruise missiles to hit ISIL’s strongholds.
Several weapons stockpiles and a terrorist command center were destroyed in the strike.
According to the Russian military, three large weapons and ammunition stockpiles alongside a command center near the town of Aqayrabat were destroyed in the strike, which was confirmed by objective control measures.
Also, the Syrian and Russian forces, backed by Damascus and Moscow aircraft, carried out a large-scale joint operation in Hama province to hit ISIL’s defense lines East of the town of al-Salamiyah.
According to reports, pro-gov’t forces had started a fresh phase of military operation to liberate the Eastern countryside of al-Salamiyah, which has been under ISIL’s control for more than two years.
Based on reports, the Russian Special Forces, backed by Moscow Air Force, also participated in the military operations in Eastern Hama.
Liberation of Aqayrabat region is a main objective of the Syrian and Russian forces’ operation in Eastern Hama, as Aqayrabat is considered ISIL’s main stronghold in the province that is located along the terrorist group’s main supply route to the Raqqa province.
Military sources confirmed on Tuesday that the Syrian Army dispatched hundreds of its Special Forces to Eastern Hama, adding that the army also sent modern Russian military equipment to the battlefields to be used in the war on ISIL terrorists.
The sources said that Terminator-2 BMPT tanks that had not been used in battle against terrorists would be present in the upcoming war on ISIL East of al-Salamiyah city.
Another military official said the Russian forces operate the modern tanks until the Syrian forces go through the training course on how to operate the tanks.
The source further added that the army launched its operation to retake control over the gas and oil pipeline and liberate the Eastern countryside of al-Salamiyah city to drive ISIL out of Aqayrabat region.
The source went on to say that the army’s Special Forces of Desert Hawks and the Russian tanks were to take part in the operation in Eastern Hama.
The source further said that the terrorists planted a large number of landmines in the region and the ISIL’s geographical knowledge of the region would make the operation for the army difficult.
The source underscored that liberation of Eastern Hama would pave the way for the army to enter Deir Ezzur province and end ISIL’s presence in the region.
The source added that East Hama battle would be one of the toughest in recent months as the ISIL knows that a defeat in Eastern Hama would be a great loss for them.
Terminator tanks were first seen in the Russian-run Humeimim airfield during the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s visit to the base.
According to reports, a number of very strong Russia-made Terminator Tanks were seen in images of Assad’s visit to Humeimim military airport in Lattakia province, while Moscow had never declared anything about deploying this kind of tank in Syria.
Terminator is similar to T-72 but is equipped with stronger weapons, adding that the tank’s main mission is providing support for friendly tanks in the battlefields and destroying enemy tanks by missile fire.
Terminator is capable of targeting and destroying other tanks and armored vehicles from a 6km distance, the report added.
Homs
The ISIL terrorists have lost several towns, villages and hilltops to the Syrian Army troops and the Lebanese Hezbollah forces in Eastern Homs in recent days, field sources said, adding that the pro-government force are approaching the town of al-Sukhnah that is the last main stronghold of the terrorists before Deir Ezzur.
The army soldiers and Hezbollah fighters that are fighting against ISIL in al-Heil energy field to take a small part of the field still under the control of the terrorists stormed ISIL’s defense lines around the oilfield and managed to take control of more heights.
The army units and Hezbollah fighters continued their operations to reach the strategic town of al-Sukhnah, the last ISIL stronghold in Homs province as well as the Takfiri terrorist group’s last defense lines directly West of the city of Deir Ezzur and captured most hilltops within the al-Qalilat mountain to the Northwest of the al-Heil area.
The army soldiers continued to advance against ISIL Northeast of Jubab Hama after capturing Jubab Hamd key region and al-Alaam heightand took back several heights overlooking the villages of al-Baqaliyeh.
Earlier reports said that the army men and the Hezbollah fighters managed to advance against ISIL in the depth of Badiyeh (desert) and seized full control over a large part of al-Heil oilfield near the town of al-Sukhnah.
In the meantime, the Russian and Syrian fighter jets carried out repeated attacks on ISIL’s defense lines in al-Heil, killing a number of terrorists.
According to reports, a few dozens more of ISIL terrorists have remained in the region, and the army soldiers seem to have an easy job to move fast towards al-Sukhnahh.
Field reports also said that the pro-government forces are engaged in a military operation to liberate the oil-rich town of al-Sukhnah from ISIL.
Al-Sukhnah is the last bastion of ISIL fighters in Homs and the last strategic barrier which stands before pro-government forces can lifting the siege of Deir Ezzur.
