Syrian Armed Forces Overwhelm ISIS at Baroud Hill and Mafraq
On Saturday morning, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) – in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF) and the Al-Ba’ath Battalions – took advantage of the ISIL’s recent setbacks in the Al-Hasakah Governorate by attacking the strategic hill at Tal Baroud and the village of Mafraq, killing a confirmed 37 enemy combatants and destroying three armored vehicles that were mounted with 23mm anti-aircraft machine guns.
After almost four straight hours of violent firefights at Tal Baroud, the Syrian Armed Forces were able to assert full-control over this hill and the rugged terrain surrounding this area in the Al-Hasakah Governorate, resulting in the withdrawal of all armed combatants from ISIL towards their stronghold at the city of Al-Shadadi in the southern part of this province.
In addition to their capture of Tal Baroud, the Syrian Armed Forces overwhelmed the enemy combatants from ISIL at the village of Mafraq after a series of fierce firefights that engulfed this area of the Al-Hasakah Governorate for four straight days; this area is imperative to the Syrian Armed Forces due to its proximity to the provincial capital and ISIS’ supply route to their fighters.
With Mafraq and Tal Baroud under their control, the Syrian Armed Forces now control more territory in the Al-Hasakah Governorate than they did in 2013 and 2014; this province is strategically important to ISIL because it links the Nineveh Governorate of Iraq to their capital at the Ar-Raqqa Governorate of Syria.
