OVERVIEW OF BATTLE FOR DEIR EZZOR ON SEPTEMBER 17-18, 2017 (MAPS, PHOTOS, VIDEOS)
The situation is rapidly developing in the Syrian province of Deir Ezzor. While the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have not reached the bank of the Euphrates, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies have crossed the river.
On September 17, the SAA and its allies fully liberated Jafrah, Ayyash, the Hujeif mount, Muraieiah, Hawayej, Hawayej Abu Arab, Ain Abu Jumah and Hajj Hammoud as well as some nearby points on the both northwestern and southeastern flanks of the city.
At the same time, the SDF, backed up by the US-led coalition, seized the 7 Kilo roundabout and factories around it north of Deir Ezzor. The key SDF problem is that al-Husayniyah village, locaed on the bank of the Euphrates, is still contested. US-backed forces have not been able to capture it because it’s one of the few ISIS fortified positions north of Deir Ezzor.
The ISIS-linked news agency Amaq announced that ISIS fighters attacked a position of the SAA south of the Taim oil field southwest of Deir Ezzor city. According to Amaq, ISIS fighters killed 4 SAA soldiers and destroyed a BMP-1 vehicle and a 57mm gun of the SAA, during the attack.
Meanwhile, Russian warplanes destroyed dozens of ISIS ferries along the Euphrates river. ISIS usually use the ferries to move fighters and equipment, and most important oil tankers between the two banks of the Euphrates river. Some pro-militant sources as well as MSM-style media outlets already claimed that the Russians were bombing civilian targets.
On September 18, special units of the SAA embedded with Russian military advisers crossed the Euphrates river east of Deir Ezzor and gained positions there after a firefight with ISIS terrorists, according to the Russian media.
A media wing of the SAA 5th Assault Corps’ ISIS Hunters (an elite unit of the SAA) confirmed this report saying that the ISIS Hunters has crossed the Euphrates.
The US-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) also reported that the SAA has crossed the Euphrates.
According to unconfriemd reports, the SAA and its allies captured Marat and Madhlum villages on the eastern bank of the Euphrates. The Russian media says that the operation is actively supported by warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces as well as by BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers and TOS-1A Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower systems.
Separately, clashes were also reported in the Saqr Island.
Click to see the full-size image
Since the start of September, the SDF and pro-SDF sources have repeatedly claimed that they will not allow the SAA to cross the Euphrates. What now?
BREAKING: Syrian Army assaults huge ISIS-held island east of Deir Ezzor
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:45 P.M.) – Amid earlier reports that elite Syrian forces crossed to the eastern bank of the Euphrates River also now comes reports that the Syrian Arab Army has carried out an amphibious assault on a strategic ISIS-held island to the east of Deir Ezzor city.
Hours ago, word came in from military sources that the Syrian Army struck at ISIS positions on the Euphrates island of Hawijat Sakr.
The size of the Syrian Army assault force is currently unknown; likewise the strength of Islamic State forces on the island also unknown.
Should Syrian forces liberate Sakr island, then ISIS militants trapped in Deir Ezzor city will be further isolated and their chances of fleeing in safety via crossing the Euphrates (the only route now open) will be greatly reduced.
BREAKING: Elite Syrian troops reach east bank of the Euphrates in Deir Ezzor
According to the Syrian Army’s ISIS Hunters unit, its forces have crossed from the western bank of the Euphrates near Deir Ezzor city to the eastern bank.
The report was disseminated over the ISIS Hunters’ own social media account.
The elite unit claims to be the first Syrian Army formation to reach the eastern bank of Euphrates.
The following image was released by the ISIS Hunters via the unit’s social media:
Andrew Illingworth | AMNGOVERNMENT TROOPS LIBERATED 12 VILLAGES EAST OF SALAMIYAH FROM ISIS LAST WEEK (MAP)
The article is provided by Islamic World News exclusively for SouthFront
The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies liberated a large area from ISIS in the eastern countryside of Hama, north of the Homs-Palmyra highway, during the last week.
Government forces liberated Qulayb ath-Thawr, Abu Hanaya, Abu Jurays, Al-Shandakhiya Shamaliya, Janubiya, Al’Amudiya, Nabatiya, Umm Tin Al-Mu’allaq, Abu Tababir, Khalid Hilal, Umm Rajm and Rasm Sawwan.
On Monday, government troops continued their operation against ISIS aiming to clear the entire ISIS-held pocket.
Related News
- Destruction of Raqqa exceeds that of Mosul, Aleppo: BBC correspondent
- Elite Syrian troops reach east bank of the Euphrates in Deir Ezzor
- Kurdish forces expand control zone near east bank of Euphrates in Deir Ezzor
- VIDEOS: Huge war between Al-Qaeda and Turkish Army looms in Idlib
- Exclusive: First scenes from liberated Jafra in Deir Ezzor
- Kurdish forces open up a second front against ISIS in Raqqa
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