Illustrative image, By SANA
On August 10, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that the SAA advanced more than 40km deep in the northeastern al-Suwayda countryside. According to the state-run news agency, the SAA’s engineer units removed dozens of IEDs and destroyed a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), which was left behind by ISIS fighters.
The SAA and local fighters also attacked a hideout of the terrorist group near the area of Beir Hassan in the northern al-Suwayda countryside. The SANA said that 13 fighters of ISIS were killed and dozens others were injured as a result of the attack.
As the battle in northern al-Suwayda intensifies, the negotiations between the Damascus government and ISIS to release around 30 civilians, who were abducted by the terrorist group previously, have failed for unknown reasons, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
Last week, ISIS fighters executed one of the hostages 19 years old “Muhanad Zuqan Abu Amar,” after the failure of the first round of negotiations. The terrorist group may execute other hostages in the upcoming hours in order to pressure the Damascus government, which seems determined to release them at all costs.
