On Thursday, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) Tiger Forces began a military operation aimed at securing the strategic Ithriya-Resafa road.
The SAA aims to end the presence of ISIS fighters in the remaining villages in the eastern Aleppo countryside and to reduce the frontline from 250 km to 60 km in the area. This will greatly help the SAA at the start of its advance from Resafa to Al-Sukhna or Deir Ezzour.
The SAA managed to repel an ISIS attack on its positions in Sousah village south of Maskana town. The SAA also recovered some positions that it had previously lost.
From its side, ISIS claimed that it targeted an SAA gathering in Khirbat Zeidan village in the southern Tabqah countryside. According to ISIS, the attack led to the destruction of a battle tank and the killing and wounding of Syrian soldiers.
Moreover, a video showed that SAA managed last week to capture a large tank ISIS workshop in Resafa town. It appears that the workshop included at least 9 tanks which the SAA captured or destroyed. The SAA was also able to prevented ISIS fighters from moving military equipment from Resafa.
It is expected that SAA operation at the Ithriyah-Resafa road will soon end, with most ISIS fighters already withdrawing from the area as a result of their heavy losses in the eastern Aleppo countryside.
The tank workshop mentioned is probably this one: http://within-syria.blogspot.com/2017/05/isis-tanks-from-workshop-to-farm.html
Oryx blog? Hrrm must have changed the name?
SAA moving east of Ithriya towards Resafa will close the ISIS pocket and reduce the front line significantly, solidifying eastern Aleppo province under SAA control. ISIS is being attacked from the north, west and from the south, in two or three months this US asset will become worthless.
SDF should see and learn and consider the plummeting value of US portfolio in ME.
The shortening of the line also means more rapid deployment of SAA forces between Ithriya and Rasafa, and will speed the upcoming operation for the relief of Deir Ez-Zor….
SAA should be able clear this packet within week, as mostly is desert. The SAA should also clean the packet South of Itria. This will redus additional front line, before going East and Dier Ezzor
I think it will be done much faster! Its only 33km wide! Artillery fire from either side would clean it. then just run ur tanks through it! Job done! One day no probs!
this is the stupid arab tactics. tanks! no guy, motorized units. tanks alone have no chance.
Well prepared pick ups – same fire power, faster, cheaper.
and ducks for guerilla
They have retreated from the area! Any vehicles left would be taken out by airstrikes! Artillery to scatter the rats Tanks to clean up the mess!
Whats wrong with that?
tanks alone are vulnerable. it si enough some guerilla to destroy them. and some mines.