Syria in Last 24 Hours: Syrian Army Frees Vast Region in Sweida

The army units engaged in tough battle with ISIL and pushed them back from Tal (hill) Asadi, Tal Jarin, Tal al-Rayahin and Ba’ar al-Sabouni region and later continued their advance towards Ba’ar al-Sawt.

A military source said that the army has captured 100sq/km of land after its recent advances in Southern Sweida.

In the meantime, tens of terrorists were killed and dozens more were injured during the Syrian army’s operations in other provinces across Syria.

Dara’a

Scores of militants in Dara’a were killed and wounded in a huge blast at one of their arms and ammunition depot in the city.

Websites affiliated to the terrorist groups reported that the blast occurred in a cache of mortars, ammunition and missiles in Katibeh al-Mahjoureh region in the Western parts of the Old Customs Office in Dara’a, killing 7 militants and injuring tens of others.

The blast came as a new wave of assassinations has started in recent months against commanders of the terrorist groups in Dara’a.

According to earlier reports, hundreds of militants have defected to the ISIL over the past year, increasing tensions among the Free Syrian Army (FSA) factions.

Deir Ezzur

The Syrian army completed its deployment in desert areas and was standing order to launch a major offensive to liberate Deir Ezzur.

According to the Arabic-language al-Ahd news website, the Syrian army forces deployed in the town of al-Sawaneh in Eastern Homs for military operations against the ISIL in Deir Ezzur.

A military source said that al-Sawaneh was seen as army’s platform for starting the march on ISIL in Deir Ezzur.

He added that the army would soon start the Deir Ezzur offensive from al-Sawaneh as reinforcement troops were also on their way to join the soldiers stationed in al-Sawaneh.

An army officer disclosed on Tuesday that the ISIL terrorist group was preparing to kick off a large-scale operation against the Syrian Army troops in Deir Ezzur after its increasing defeats and losses in Eastern Homs and Southern Raqqa.

The English-language AMN website quoted an unnamed army officer as saying that the ISIL was getting ready to attack the army’s stronghold in the Eastern province of Deir Ezzur after its defeats in the town of al-Sukhnah in Eastern Homs, vast withdrawal from the Southeastern territories of Raqqa province and collapse of its front in Aqayrabat region in Southern Hama.

The AMN quoted another military source as saying that hundreds of ISIL terrorists launched fresh attacks on government forces’ positions in Deir Ezzur to pave the ground for their large-scale operation.

In the meantime, field reports said that ISIL confiscated houses of civilians in the towns and villages in Eastern Deir Ezzur and relocated its fugitive members and their families to the seized houses and properties.

The fugitive members of ISIL and their families were previously living in the Eastern part of Raqqa province, the town of al-Sukhnah in Eastern Homs, the villages of Soula and Kabajeb in Southwestern Deir Ezzur but left their home following the army advances in the region.

Damascus

A well-informed sources reported on Tuesday that the Lebanese Army troops, their Syrian counterpart and popular fighters were ready to launch a large-scale operation to drive ISIL terrorists out of heights in Eastern Lebanon at border with Syria.

The sources said that the army completed all the preliminary steps in the heights near the towns of al-Qa’a, Ra’as Ba’albak and al-Fakeha to launch a large-scale anti-ISIL operation in Northeastern Lebanon along the border with Syria.

The sources further said that the army soldiers, Hezbollah fighters and Syrian Army would partner in the operation in Arsal in three directions.

The raid would come after all Nusra-held territories in the same region were purged of terrorists in a massive assault by the Lebanese and Syrian armies as well as Hezbollah in recent weeks.

Field reports said that the army troops continued their operations against Al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay’at or the Levant Liberation Board) in Eastern Ghouta on Tuesday to stretch their chain of security around the capital city.

The army men, backed up by artillery and missile units, engaged in fierce clashes with Al-Nusra in several areas in Ein Terma and Jobar regions and managed to advance against the terrorists in furnaces district in Jobar and Suzuki neighborhood in Ein Terma.

The artillery and missile units pounded an important base of Al-Nusra in Ein Terma, killing a large number of terrorist in the base.

Meantime, a military source confirmed that the army soldiers prevailed over the Al-Nusra’s defense lines in Ein Terma and captured several buildings overlooking the Western and Central parts of Ein Terma.

The army men also imposed full control over several strategic buildings in Showan neighborhood in Ein Terma after hours of clashes.

Field sources reported on Thursday that Jeish al-Islam clashed with Al-Nusra in al-Ash’ari region and took control over the region after pushing Al-Nusra towards the village of al-Aftaris.

In the meantime, Faylaq al-Rahman stormed Al-Nusra’s position and laid siege on the rival group in the town of Hazah, the sources added.

According to field reports, Faylaq al-Rahman and Jeish al-Islam have agreed to end Al-Nusra’s presence in Eastern Ghouta.

The sources further said that Faylaq al-Rahman stormed the positions of Ahrar al-Sham in the town of Arbin in Eastern Ghouta and captured their positions and command centers in the town, adding that Ahrar al-Sham is now left with control only parts of Harasta region.

 Homs

Sources affiliated to the terrorist groups reported that tens of Russian forces entered Northern Homs to monitor the ceasefire agreement between the Syrian Army and militants concluded on Thursday.

The sources said that 40 Russian military policemen arrived in Dar al-Kabireh passageway in Northern Homs along with their vehicles to monitor the newly-brokered ceasefire in the region.

Meantime, military sources reported that the army soldiers stormed ISIL’s defense lines North-East of Palmyra (Tadmur) in their push towards Deir Ezzur and managed to capture several positions near the villages of al-Koum and al-Tayebah.

In the meantime, the Syrian Air Force bombed ISIL’s movements and strongholds in the villages of Um Sahrij, Um Tweinah, Tweinan and al-Shandakhiyeh in Eastern Homs and in Humeimeh region near the provincial border with Deir Ezzur, destroying their command center, vehicles and military equipment.

Also, the army men repelled ISIL’s heavy attack on pro-government forces’ positions around al-Sukhnah, killing a number of them and forcing the remaining pockets of them to retreat.

Raqqa

Almost 50 civilians were killed or wounded in the US airstrikes and heavy fire of the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Raqqa city.

The US fighter jets and the SDF artillery and missile units targeted Raqqa city, killing 18 civilians and injuring 30 more.

Hama

Field sources said that the government troops went about to capture the entire lands in Central Syria after four years of terrorists’ occupation following the recent advances against ISIL in Eastern Hama and Homs.

The army forces inflicted heavy defeats on ISIL terrorists by recapturing the key town of al-Sukhnah in Eastern Homs and advancing against terrorists in the Southern part of Raqqa province, the sources said.

In the meantime, thousands of army soldiers deployed in Eastern Hama were ready to launch a large-scale operation to liberate the ISIL-held town of Aqayrabat, reports said, adding that the Syrian and Russian fighter jets were continuously bombing ISIL’s positions and supply lines East of the town of al-Salamiyah in Hama.

Aqayrabat has long been the ISIL’s main stronghold in Central Syria as it is a cross-road town that is located near the provincial borders of the Hama, Homs, and Raqqa provinces, and SIL’s defeat in al-Sukhnah was a severe blow to the terrorists in Aqayrabat.

Losing Aqayrabat after al-Sukhnah will leave ISIL no choice but to abandon Central Syria and move their remaining militants to the Eastern parts of the country in Deir Ezzur.