Click to see the full-size map
On November 3, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) Tiger Forces and the Republican Guard liberated the strategic city of Deir Ezzor after government forces retook the neighborhoods of Uthaniyah and al-Hawiqah in the northern part of the city. The victory in Deir Ezzor was officially confirmed by the Syrian Defense Ministry in the morning.
Now, the SAA and its allies are working to secure its success and to clear Al-Sefsef Island located between the recently liberated northern part of the city and the eastern bank of Euphrates.
Click to see the full-size map
The liberation of Deir Ezzor followed a series of rapid advances of the Tiger Forces and the Republican Guard that allowed government forces to restore control over a wide area, including the neighborhoods of Sheikh Yassin, al-Hamidiyah, Jubaliyah, Kanamat, Khassarat, Badr and Old Airport and other points.
The liberation of Deir Ezzor is a key part of the wider effort of the Syrian-Iranian-Russian coalition against ISIS in eastern Syria. Now, government forces and their allies will be able to develop advance on the last major ISIS-held town in Syria – al-Bukamal.
Military situation in Deir Ezzor city on November 2:
Click to see the full-size map
OVERVIEW OF DEIR EZZOR CITY OPERATION:
The preparations to liberate Deir Ezzor started right after the SAA and its allies broke the ISIS siege on the city on September 5 and the ISIS siege on Deir Ezzor Airport on September 10. The military operation was first assigned to the SAA’s Republican Guard supported by the Russian Aerospace Forces.
Click to see the full-size map
On September 21, the Republican Guard crossed the Euphrates River and captured a foothold on the strategic Saqr island southeast of Deir Ezzor city under the command of General Issam Zahreddine.
However, due to ISIS attack on the al-Sukhnah–Deir Ezzor highway on Septmber 29, the SAA operations in Saqr island slowed down, and the focus was shifted towards the strategic al-Mayadin city in the southeastern Deir Ezzor countryside.
The SAA advanced on al-Mayadin in order to draw the ISIS attention from the Palmyra-Deir Ezzor highway and to destroy one of the key ISIS bases on the western bank of the Euphrates.
Click to see the full-size map
The Tiger Forces and their allies liberated the ISIS de-facto capital in Syria, Mayadin, on October 14. According to pro-government sources, about 180 ISIS members were killed during this operation.
Government forces seized a large number of weapons and equipment inside the city and delivered a devastating blow to ISIS in eastern Syria. Al-Bukamal became the last ISIS stronghold near the Iraqi border.
Click to see the full-size map
On October 17, the SAA and the Russian Aerospace Forces renewed their attacks on Saqr Island. However, the operation faced another major setback when General Issam Zahreddine was killed in action on October 18. General Zahreddine was the leader of Deir Ezzor defenders over the recent years and an expirienced commander of the Republican Guard.
More about the Republican Guard and General Zahreddine (produced on March 4, 2017):
Then, the Syrian General Command ordered the Tiger Forces to re-deploy from al-Maydin to Deir Ezzor in order to reinforce Republican Guard units there, and boost the attack on Saqr Island.
The Tiger Forces started their operation with an advance on the ISIS-held Industrial Area in the eastern part of Deir Ezzor city. The Industrial area was captured by the Tiger Forces on October 25 and Saqr Island was effectively cut off from ISIS-held neighborhoods in the rest of the city.
Click to see the full-size map
The Tiger Forces advance paid off quickly and government successfully captured Saqr Island on October 26 and started clashing with ISIS inside the city itself.
Click to see the full-size map
By October 28, SAA and the Tiger Forces captured al-Umal area (workers 1 and workers 2) and al-Eirfi neighborhood in the center of Deir Ezzor city. And on October 31, the SAA liberated the neighborhoods of Kanamat, Khassarat, Badr and Old Airport from ISIS also in the center of the city.
Click to see the full-size map
The SAA and the Tiger Forces maintained their rapid advance, and on November 1 they captured Jubaliyah neighborhood, the central park area, the school of law and education and the southern part of Hamidiyah district in the city of Deir Ezzor.
Click to see the full-size map
On November 2, the SAA and the Tiger Forces successfully captured the strategic al-Hamidiyah neighborhood from ISIS. The Tiger Forces went on and captured al-Baajen, al-Abed, al-shiekh Yaseen and parts of al-Rashdiea and Al-‘Ardhi neighborhoods in the same day.
Click to see the full-size map
Thus, over 90% of Deir Ezzor city was liberated by the SAA and Tiger Forces, while ISIS maintained its presence only in al-Uthmaniyah, al-Hawiqah and parts of al-‘Ardhi and al-Rashdiea and al-Jaradiq neighborhoods along the west bank of the Euphrates river.
On November 3, the ISIS defense fully collapsed in the northern part of the city and goovernetn forces liberated Uthaniyah and al-Hawiqah as well as the nearby points. The Syrian Defense Ministry declared the liberation of the city.
The military operation to liberate Deir Ezzor city confirmed that the Tiger Forces are one of the best forces in Syria when it comes to urban warfare. Previously the Tiger Forces successfully participated in the operation to liberate Aleppo city, another key battle of the Syrian war.
More about the Tiger Forces (produced on February 14, 2017):
Congratulation to all, specially Syrians and allies. Rest in peace the heroes who gave their precious lives for the liberation of Syria and Iraq. Looking forward for the day Syria becomes whole again.
Great news! Well done to the SAA and the RuAF as another key piece of the chessboard has been returned to Syria. This will relieve key forces to annihilate the rest of ISIS and other Proxy Armies from Syria thus forcing the US and its mercenaries to leave the country permanently or break International Law causing them major embarassment in the Middle East.
The US already broke International law by attacking and being there.
But hey, I agree it is still great news.
Excellent point and I agree wholeheartedly with you! Thanks for mentioning!
Once the SAA has its crack troops deployed its amazing how much quicker they can be at taking Jihadi held towns and cities then the SDF or the Iraqi army. Raqqa and Mosul took months of grueling urban warfare and carpet bombing by the US Chair Force.
Makes me wonder about the quality of the SAA troops in East Ghouta and what would happen if the Tigers were to be deployed there.
east ghouta have a big open landscape not like dier el zor and the american moderate jihadist are there not just isis you know so this is the reason of this delaying in liberating this specific area in m opinion
Seems Saqr Island was the key, it came at a cost though.
yeah..many brave worriers including the lion of Dier Zor
That, and most importantly, cutting the supply route was the key.
The oncoming weeks will be pivotal to the campaign to liberate Syria of course.
The US is now openly recruiting their proxies from ISIS into the SDF and the latest faux terrorist gang being trained in Al Tanf.
The US has always been a bad loser which is surprising because she wins few conflicts in reality :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZeSCJ47y80
only isis, al qaeda, kurds turks, yanks, israelis, etc.
Very impressive, the Tiger forces have proven themselves capable in combat operations that require mobility in open terrain and in urban warfare. This requires diverse fighting skills and not easily mastered. The SDF was reasonably good in open terrain but was quite bogged down in Raqqa.
Amazing news! Daesh ousted even quicker than I thought possible. A happy day! Very professional operation. Resolving this urban fight is going to release very large number of troops for other theatres. I keep saying this is the end of the road for Daesh, but all the same I find it hard to believe.
DeirezZor liberated. Well done.
The civilians, those that did not fled to the SDF, will be pleased, I hope.
Now we will soon see whether there are still pockets of resistance or not.
One can only hope that refugees wii be able to return soonest, before the onset of winter.
jetzt richtung hasakah
pffft, rat!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d7d0098f2958171538b9db7bea74e97260ceed12657da71500e6ec9df401b1a0.png
Thanks, will do.
kate island?
The jihadi-loving/Russia-hating neocon Michael Weiss (at the Daily Beast) was adamant that the SAA couldn’t take Deir Ezzor. He’s the worst of the worst, IMO. Total neocon propagandist, treated on the MSM as some kind of authority on this war. Extremely vile.