IS Fighters Almost Encircled in Syrian Desert

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Syrian regime troops have seized more territory from the Islamic State jihadist group in a central desert region, almost entirely surrounding its fighters there, a monitor said Friday.

Backed by Russian warplanes and pro-government militias, the Syrian army has made considerable progress in its months-long offensive to retake the Badiya.

The vast desert region, which stretches from the country's centre to the Iraqi and Jordanian borders, has been held by IS since 2014.

"The regime managed to encircle the area of Okayrbat and the surrounding 44 hamlets, straddling the central provinces of Hama and Homs," said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Syria's official SANA news agency also reported that Okayrbat had been surrounded.

Russia's defence ministry said the Syrian army had taken control of the last supply route for arms, ammunition and equipment in the area.

It said the jihadists were seeking to flee towards their stronghold of Deir Ezzor to the east.

"The Russian air force is continuously conducting reconnaissance drone flights drones to find and destroy armoured vehicles, pickup trucks with heavy weapons and cars used by the terrorists," it added.

Regime troops have also seized four gas fields in the central desert, the British-based Observatory said.

Victory over IS in the region is seen as key to the army's hopes of retaking Deir Ezzor, the last Syrian province that remains nearly completely under IS control.

Comments 4
Thumb gigahabib 18 August 2017, 17:40

But Naharnet told us the Syrian army never attacks ISIL?

Thumb gigahabiib 18 August 2017, 22:03

Ok Ok my bad I did not read the article correctly, I say attacks and they say encircles.. potehto potahto, at the end we'll all say let them withdraw to somewhere else. As my boyfriend The Mystic says it's like watching one of them fishing shows on TV, catch and release.

Thumb warrior 19 August 2017, 05:37

military strategist no doubt

Thumb theresistance4.0 20 August 2017, 13:42

Sore loser no doubt #DeashLoversCry