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The article is provided by Islamic World News exclusively for SouthFront
The first attack toook place in the area southwest of Ithria where a synchronized attack from both ISIS and HTS militants against the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and the National Defense Forces (NDF) took place.
The goal was to to lift the siege from ISIS militants in the east Salamiyah pocket. ISIS militants attacked Shiekh hilal from the south and HTS attacked Sa’an from the north. The SAA and the NDF temporarily withdrew from several points but then government forces gained the lost areas back and even captured some new points.
The second attack took place on the western bank of the Euphrates river in southern Raqqa countryside. ISIS militants carried out an attack against Tribal Forces positions and forced them to retreat from several villages including Moghlah Kabira, Moghla Saghira, Arrabiya, Albu Hamad and Ghanim al-Ali towards the Aljararih field.
In turn, the SAA Tiger Forces deployed reinforcements to the area and government forces conducted a counter offensive in order to recapture the lost villages. Unconfirmed reports indicate that Zawer ash-Shomar and Ghanim al-Ali villages were recaptured.
Summing up the recent events ISIS lost the last chance to regain initiative in central Syria and its defense collapsed in the province of Homs. Government forces are readying for the battle for Deir Ezzor.
