Syria Army Liberates More Areas in Deir Ez-Zor
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Syria’s army and its allies continued to make gains in their fight against Daesh (ISIL or ISIS) terrorists in Deir ez-Zor, managing to retake more areas in the eastern province.
On Saturday, Syrian government forces stepped up their attacks against Daesh and seized control of the areas of Howeijet and al-Mrai’eyeh in the southeastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor province, according to SANA news agency.
Following the recapture of the districts, the army units carried out intensive military operations against Daesh hideouts and gatherings in the eastern countryside of the province, destroying their defensive lines in the area and leaving large groups of them dead or injured.
Last week, Syria's army and allied fighters broke a years-long Daesh siege of the city of Deir ez-Zor, entering two government-held sections of the city that had been cut off from each other.
Additionally, Syrian troops on Friday crossed the Euphrates River in their push to fully liberate Deir ez-Zor, ignoring a warning by a ragtag group of militants that receives US backing.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday that the Syrian army was already on the river’s eastern side.
A commander with the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces), Ahmed Abu Khawla, had earlier said that the group would not “allow” the Syrian forces to get to the eastern bank of the river.
