Syria in Past 24 Hours: Infighting Intensified among Rival Terrorist Groups in Idlib

Idlib

Unknown assailants’ attack against the positions of Tahrir al-Sham Hay’at (the Levant Liberation Board) in Idlib extended the range of clashes among the terrorist groups in the region.

Dissident media activists reported that after heavy clashes between Ahrar al-Sham and ‘Fastaqem Kama Omert’ militants in Idlib, infighting erupted between unknown assailants and members of Tahrir al-Sham Hay’at in the Eastern town of Sanjar, adding that the former won control of several positions of Tahrir al-Sham temporarily.

Meantime, some members of Tahrir al-Sham said that the attack was launched by Jeish al-Fatehin militants – affiliated to Ahrar al-Sham – at the order of the group’s commander Hessam Salamah.

Tahrir al-Sham members were put on the alert against Jeish al-Fatehin for several hours after the attack.

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

Raqqa

The predominately Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continued the fourth phase of the anti-ISIL Euphrates Rage Operation in Raqqa, capturing several villages and farms.

The SDF seized control of the village of Badr in the Eastern parts of Raqqa and the wheat silos near the village after two days of clashes with the ISIL terrorists.

Also in the Northwestern parts of Raqqa, the SDF forces could liberate the three villages of al-Andules, Mazloum and Falaj from ISIL’s control after heavy clashes with the terrorists and killing tens of them.

They also took control of two strategic villages of Abdullah and Kobra in the Northern and Northwestern parts of Raqqa as well as 17 farms.

Homs

The Syrian army units continued military operations in Eastern Homs, heavily pounding the ISIL positions on Palmyra-Deir Ezzur road and advancing in the region.

The Syrian army troops, backed by the airstrikes launched by the Syrian and Russian warplanes, hit ISIL’s positions near the Arak Gas Fields, inflicting heavy losses on the Takfiri terrorist group.

A military source said the pro-gov’t forces managed to reach the outskirts of the Gas Fields in Eastern Palmyra.

He added that the liberation of the Arak Gas Fields was paramount in lifting the siege on Deir Ezzur, as the site is located along the highway to the provincial capital.

Hama

The Syrian army repulsed an ISIL attack on its positions in the Eastern parts of Hama, inflicting heavy losses on the militants.

The army units engaged in fierce clashes with the ISIL terrorists who intended to occupy the village of Aqareb al-Safiyeh in Eastern Hama and repelled their attacks.

During the clashes, a large number of militants were killed and a large number of their weapons and military equipment were smashed.

Deir Ezzur

The ISIL dismissed its Emir in Deir Ezzur after the execution operations ended in the city and replaced him with a Saudi national.

Field reports said that Abu Khatab Araqi, the Emir of Velayat al-Khayr (including Deir Ezzur province except Albu Kamal and certain parts of Eastern Raqqa), was dismissed and one of the Saudi ISIL members named Abu Khalid al-Jazrawi was replaced with him.

Media sources reported the development came after Araqi stopped execution of his soldiers.

Field sources believe that the execution operations would resume again in the region soon.

The ISIL is also executing its forces in the town of Albu Kamal, despite the fact that it is outside Velayat al-Khayr. Recent reports said that after the recent airstrikes in Deir Ezzur, the ISIL beheaded 8 members.

Dara’a

The Syrian army, supported by the air force, repelled an offensive launched by the al-Nusra Front (also known as Fatah al-Sham Front or the Levant Liberation Board), killing a large number of militants, including several commanders.

The Syrian soldiers repulsed the terrorists’ attacks against their positions in al-Manshiyeh and Sajneh in Dara’a city in Southern Syria after heavy clashes with the militants.

The clashes left a large number of terrorists dead and wounded and destroyed one of their tanks.

Several al-Nusra commanders, including Bilal Abu Zaid nom de guerre Abu Islam Da’el and Saudi national Abu Hashem al-Tabuki, as well as commander of Kata’eb al-Da’wa terrorist group Malik al-Amri and commander of Kata’eb Saif al-Haq named Mo’taz al-Nabwan were killed.

The Syrian fighter jets also pounded the terrorists’ positions and bases in Dara’a.

Aleppo

Hundreds of fresh forces arrived in Eastern Aleppo to help the Syrian army in its anti-ISIL campaign.

A military source said on Thursday that several convoys of Syrian soldiers who had participated in operations in Northern Hama joined their comrades in Aleppo to force the ISIL withdraw from its remaining bases in the province.

The source added that the anti-ISIL operations will accelerate to take back the regions occupied by the terrorists and end their presence in Aleppo.