Syrian forces fully recapture Daesh’s last stronghold on border with Iraq

Syrian army soldiers, backed by pro-government fighters from popular defense groups, have fully liberated a strategic city in the country’s eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr and on the border with Iraq from the clutches of Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

Syria’s Joint Operations Command announced in a statement on Sunday that Syrian troops and their allies had fully retaken Bukamal, which lies on the Euphrates River, and were combing the area for improvised explosive devices and mines left by the terrorists, Lebanon-based Arabic-language al-Mayadeen news network reported.

The statement added that the self-proclaimed Daesh governor of Bukamal, known by the nom de guerre, Abu Hasan al-Iraqi, had fled from the city to the eastern bank of the Euphrates River.

There are also reports that two high-ranking Daesh military commanders, identified as Saddam al-Jamal and Abu Sumaiya al-Ansari have escaped from Bukamal.

Syrian army soldiers and pro-government fighters declared victory over Daesh in Bukamal earlier this month, but the terrorists then staged a counter-attack using sleeper cells hidden in the city.

The recapture of Bukamal means that Daesh Takfiris now control only a few villages along the Euphrates and patches of nearby desert in addition to isolated pockets in other parts of Syria.

Also on Sunday, Syrian army units and their allied forces regained control over two villages in the northeastern part of the country’s western-central province of Hama.

Syria’s official news agency, SANA, reported that the forces managed to establish complete control over Harran and Hardana villages after inflicting heavy blows to members of Jabhat Fatah al-Sham terrorist group, formerly known as al-Nusra Front.

The report added that a large number of Jabhat Fatah al-Sham militants were killed in the process and scores of them fled from the villages.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups that are wreaking havoc in the country.