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ISIS Strikes Syrian / Russian Forces in Deir ez Zor From US Controlled Zone in Syria

The Geopolitics of Der Ezzor, SAA & SDF

US-Backed SDF Nearing Direct Confrontation with Syrian Army in Deir Ezzur Province

The Washington-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continue to advance in ISIL-held regions in Deir Ezzur province despite repeated warnings by Damascus, increasing the possibility of direct confrontation with the Syrian Army troops deployed in the region, local sources said on Saturday.

The sources said that the SDF has managed to impose full control over the al-Bazikh mountain and the neighboring Derro oilfield, North of Deir Ezzur.

In the meantime, the Kurdish-language Hawar news reported that the SDF has seized control over al-Azbah and Koniko oil companies.

It added that the US-backed troops hope to occupy a dozen ISIL-held towns and villages on the Eastern side of the Euphrates River in Deir Ezzur’s Northern countryside in the next phase of the ongoing Island Storm Operation to spread their control over the region that is seen as the designated battlefield of the Syrian army.

In relevant developments on Thursday, Moscow warned the US that if US-backed groups in Northeast Syria again attack the positions of the Syrian pro-government forces backed by Russia, the Russian military would use all its force to retaliate.

The SDF, a group that receives support from the US military, twice attacked positions of the Syrian Arab Army in the Deir Ezzur province with mortar and rocket fire, according to the Russian Defense Ministry’s spokesman, Major General Igor Konashenkov.

Konashenkov said, “Russia unequivocally told the commanders of US forces in Al Udeid Airbase (Qatar) that it will not tolerate any shelling from the areas where the SDF are stationed.”

He further added that the attacks put at risk Russian military advisers embedded with Syrian government troops.

“Fire from positions in regions controlled by the SDF will be suppressed by all means necessary,” he stressed.

Konashenkov said Moscow suspected the SDF of colluding with the terrorist group ISIL in Deir Ezzur rather than fighting it, as it claims to be. He said Russia had detected the transfer of SDF militants from the ISIL stronghold of Raqqa, to join forces with the terrorists.

“SDF militants work to the same objectives as ISIL terrorists. Russian drones and intelligence have not recorded any confrontations between ISIL and the ‘third force,’ the SDF,” the Russian general said.

The statement said that the siege of Raqqa by the SDF was halted, apparently in response to the latest advances by Syrian government forces in Deir Ezzur, which was located to the East from Raqqa along the Euphrates River.

“The Central parts of the former ISIL capital, which account for roughly 25 percent of the city, remain under full control of the terrorists,” Konashenkov remarked.

According to the statement, the Syrian government troops “continued their offensive operation” to destroy the last “ISIL bridgehead” near the city of Deir Ezzur, the provincial capital. Troops led by Syrian Army General Suheil al-Hassan liberated around 16 sq/km of territory and two settlements on the Western bank of the Euphrates River.

“More than 85 percent of Deir Ezzur territory is under the full control of Syrian troops. Over the next week the city will be liberated completely,” Konashenkov said.

The city of Deir Ezzur in Eastern Syria was besieged by ISIL in 2014. Syrian government forces lifted the blockade of the city in early September.

However, the liberation of Deir Ezzur also triggered a confrontation between Syrian government forces and the US-backed SDF militants, the point of contention being control of Deir Ezzur’s oil fields.

Following Damascus’s strategic victory, food, medicine and other essentials started to reach the city by convoy, where previously the inhabitants had to rely on air-drops.

Fleeing IS, civilians arrive safely in govt-controlled areas of Deir ez-Zor

The Syrian Arab Army’s map liberates Ma’adan Town and entire Western Euphrates bank North of Deir ezzor from the so-called Islamic state terror organisation… The elite Tiger Forces have liberated all the Southeastern Raqqa and Northwest Deir ezzor Governorate’s from Isis following a massive offensive push up the Western bank of the Euphrates…

The elite Tiger Forces of the Syrian Arab Army have liberated all? of Southeast Raqqa and Northwest Deir ezzor Governorates from the so-called Islamic state terror organisation, following a massive offensive push up the West bank of the Euphrates… Hours ago the Syrian Arab Army liberated the strategic Town of Ma’adan… By securing the entire Western bank of the Euphrates North of Deir ezzor, the Syrian Arab Army has de facto besieged any Isis forces which may remain in the desolate inland desert spaces of Southeastern Raqqa although it is hard to believe that the Terrorist group left behind militants to defend such valueless areas… Given the general patten of Isis strategic withdrawals, it appears that the Jihadist faction has completely withdrawn either to the Eastern bank and/or South of Deir ezzor city…

After successfully obliterating the ISIS convoy, the Syrian Army and Hezbollah found this footage on the GO Pro camera of the terror group.

The Syrian Arab Army has launched a full-scale counter offensive in Northern Hama Governorate, now advancing into territory that has long since been held by militant forces… Capitalizing on Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham heavy losses and failed offensive, the Syrian Arab Army,spearheaded by the elite Tiger Forces, broke through the Terrorist groups weekend lines in Northern Hama going onto the attack… So far the Tiger Forces, propelled by heavy rocket Artillery bombardment and Airstrikes, have liberated the Towns of Um Haryteen and Qabibat, located South of Atshan… This operation is part of the punishment being delivered onto Idlib-based militant groups for their breaking of the de-escalation agreement in Northern Hama… Whilst the entire scope of the Syrian Arab Army operation is not yet clear, some military sources are hinting that the strategic Towns of Atshan, Morek, and Al-Latamenah are all now valid targets for liberation by the Government-led forces…

During the Al-Qaeda’s led militant offensive against the Syrian Arab Army positions in Northern Hama much of the remaining Armored reserve available to rebel forces in Northwest Syria was tossed into battle in an attempt to break Syrian Arab Army’s lines around Ma’an… As the battle developed, Syrian Army Armor,Battle-tank-killer teams and Russian precision Airstrikes identified and destroyed a significant part of the militant Armored strike force and in doing so effectively blunted the offensive potential of the Al-Qaeda’s offensive… Footage has emerged recently showing Syrian Arab Army’s Battle-tanks, and Battle-tank killer teams Knocking-out Jihadist Armored in Northern Hama… The entire continuous footage sequence was captured by a forward reconnaissance team using thermal-vision camera… In the video the Syrian Arab Army can be seen Knocking-out several Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham Jihadist Armored vehicles with long-range stand-off fire in the village of Skik in the Northern countryside of Hama…

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Syrian Air-Defense Unit Intercepts Israeli Missile over Damascus Airspace

A missile fired by the Israeli forces to target the Damascus international airport was shot down by the Syrian Army’s air-defense units, an Arab media outlet reported on Saturday.

The Arabic-language website of the Russia’s state news agency, RT, quoted Syria’s Elam al-Harbi news agency as reporting that the army’s Russia-made mid-range Buk-M2 system targeted and shot down an Israeli missile that was fired to hit the Damascus airport.

Eyewitnesses said parts of the intercepted missile are escattered across al-Keswah area in a region near the town of al-Zariqiyeh South of Damascus city.

In the meantime, Israeli media sources and some Syrian social networks reported earelir today that the regions near Damascus international airport were hit by two or three missiles flying from outside the Syrian airspace.

A Lebanese media outlet reported on Friday that an Israeli attack drone fired two missiles at the Damascus International Airport last night, causing a loud explosion that could be heard throughout the Syrian capital.

The English-language Beirut-based AMN reported that the two Israeli missiles did not cause much damage to the airport or its surroundings.

The report also indicated that the attack did not kill or wound any civilians or military personnel present at the airport last night.

Not long after the missile strike, the Syrian Air Defense reportedly downed an Israeli drone near the town of Beit Jinn along the Damascus-Quneitra provincial border.

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Gov’t Forces Make Fresh Gains in Anti-ISIL Operation in Central Iraq

The Iraqi Army troops and popular forces of Hashd al-Shaabi continued their advances in their rush towards the ISIL-held town of Huweija and recaptured more than a dozen villages, the media bureau of the Joint Operations Command (JOC) announced in a statement.

The JOC announced on Friday that units of the 9th Armored Division as well as the 2nd and 11th brigades of the Hashd al-Shaabi had established full control over 19 villages, including Dumat Aziz, Arab Lok, Tal Ghazal, Khadhirah, Aziz Obeid, al-Hadiqah‎, Eastern Mandian, Western Mandian and Tal al-Matar.

Relevant reports said on Thursday that the Iraqi government and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) recaptured several villages as the government launched a wide-scale, final operation to retake all of ISIL’s remaining havens.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and the Joint Operations Command said Thursday and late Wednesday that major offensives were launching to retake ISIL last bastions in Salahuddin’s Shirqat and Kirkuk’s Huweija.

Other offensives had launched earlier this week at the group’s holdouts in Western Anbar’s borders with Syria.

Federal Police, Rapid Response and the Popular Mobilization Forces were carrying out the attack, according to the command.

PMF media said its troops managed to take over four villages in the ISIL-held Eastern side of Salahuddin’s Shirqat town, while Federal Police chief, Shaker Jawdat, said his troops recaptured three other villages after invading the town with tens of combat vehicles and troops.

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