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The Syrian Arab Army (SAA), the Syrian Republican Guard (SRG) and other pro-government factions continued crushing ISIS in the countryside of Deir Ezzor and in the eastern countryside of Salamiyah.
On Firday, government troops captured the areas of Huwaijat and Muraieiah southeast of Deir Ezzor Airport, according to the Hezbollah media wing in Syria. The SAA also captured Ayyash area northwest of Deir Ezzor city.
Meanwhile, the SAA captured Duhur al-Khinzer, Abu Thraha and al-Shandakhyah al-Janubyah villages inside the ISIS pocket east of Salamiyah city in the eastern Homs countryside. According to the Hezbollah media wing the SAA killed and wounded several ISIS fighters and destroyed their vehicles during its advance.
The ISIS-linked news agency Amaq claimed that a VBIED attacked a position of the SAA southwest of Jib al-Jarah area in the eastern Homs countryside. According to Amaq, 15 SAA soldiers were killed and two tanks were damaged in the attack.
ISIS also claimed that 9 other SAA soldiers were killed after they entered a mine field southwest of Jib al-Jarah area. Moreover, Amaq claimed that ISIS fighters destroyed two tanks of the SAA with ATGMs near the al-Jarah area.
The SAA increased its pressure on the remaining ISIS fighters in the Eastern Hama/Homs countryside pocket during the last week. ISIS resistance in the pocket also become more effective. However, it was not effective enough to stop the SAA advance.
