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On Saturday, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), the National Defense Forces (NDF) and the Qalamoun Shield Forces (QSF) retook 6villages inside the ISIS-held pocket east of the government-held city of Salamiyah.
The SAA, the NDF and the QSF liberated Hanutah, Mushrifah, Khalid Hilal, Abu Jurays, Shindaghiyah and Shamaliyah villages.
Earlier this week, Mushrifah, Khalid Hilal were seized by ISIS, but on Satruday they returned to government forces.
A fierce fighting continues in the eastern Salamiyah pocket north of the Homs-Palmyra highway as a high number of ISIS members remain in this low urbanized mountain area.
The ongoing battle draws the SAA resources that could be used on other frontlines. However, a threat that ISIS poses east of Salamiyah cannot be ignored.
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