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Government forces have lifted a 3-years long ISIS siege from the city of Deir Ezzor, according to pro-government sources.
Last weekend, government forces, led by the SAA Tiger Forces and supported by the Russian Aerospace Forces, recaptured a large area including Bir Ghabaghib and al-Shula villages. On Monday, government troops reportedly reached the 137 Regiment area in western Deir Ezzor and met with Republican Guard units there.
If it’s confirmed, the next SAA goal will be to establish a full control over the Sukhna-Deir Ezzor highway and to liberate the entire city.
ISIS responded to the SAA advance with launching multiple attacks against government forces positions inside the city. Separately, the terrorist group deployed large reinforcements to al-Mayadeen preparing for a large attack in the Deir Ezzor area.
The only ISIS chance to counter the SAA advance is to bring off a successful battle using prepared fortifications inside and around Deir Ezzor and to conduct multiple raids against SAA supply lines using car bombs and technicals.
In other cases, ISIS days in Deir Ezzor city are numbered.
In eastern Hama, the SAA and its allies liberated the key town of Uqayribat and some nearby points after a series of intense clashes with ISIS terrorists. Now, government forces are working to clear the entire pocket.
The Syrian military has deployed at least one Russian TOS-1 heavy flamethrower system in order to strengthen the defense of Aleppo city.
The military is actively preparing for possible attacks of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and its allies from the so-called moderate opposition.
The SAA is now deeply involved in a large-scale anti-ISIS operation in Deir Ezzor province. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham may use this for launching an attack against government forces at some front in the province of Aleppo or Hama.
ISIS days in Deir Ezzor area are numbered any way. With a strong help of aerospace Russia force, no more than a week.
Deir EzZor – Graveyard of head-choppers
Congratulations, and happy rat-hunting, SAA. Remember to lead the Captagon-fueled ones a little more when aiming for their beards. They don’t dodge as much when fleeing, but they tend to move faster and shriek like little girls.
Hurray !!! US-ISIS-NATO-ISRAEL finally defeated !!! Thankyou Siria, Russia, Iran !! You are the heroes of all the world that want peace for everybody !! Thank you from the bottom of my heart !!
You might be speaking too soon there, they still have kurds, americans and al-qaeda to deal with.
Totally defeated !! Gabriel !! i´m sorry for you ! go somewhere else now ! Africa, S America ! ha ha
Hardly a defeat yet. A few decades to go.
Ruca you are defeated Now ! It hurts !! ha ha
WTF are you on?
That is the real question. Is it that the battle for Deir Ezzor (DE) only begun, or is Daesh already unable to threaten the flanks of SAA? As they are facing constant air bombardments, it is quite likely that Daesh cannot field enough firepower to drive into the flanks of SAA, which surely will remember the last flanking attacks trying to reach DE.
No matter what, one thing is for sure, reinforcements in Deir Ezzor can finally reach DE via land again. While so far it had been reinforced via air lift (freeing air lift capacity for other tasks) it includes heavy equipment too, which wasn’t possible so far.until now. DE itself became stronger due to this anyway.
What will happen to the sideshow west of Ma’adan? Will Daesh still try to achieve there something, or do they realize that SAA is more capable than them themselves, to divide forces for such side shows? Both flanks will be tested by Daesh, that’s for sure. There is no real surprise element that Daesh can unleash, no battle of the bulge.
If this will end successfully for SAA, which I have little doubt about, then the road to Berlin has been opened, I mean Al-Bukhama.
SAA still can be outflank from South and North as the buffer zone in South of DZ highway is very thin. In one point, I would advice soone SAA have to clean the desert from ISIS South of DZ highway
It would be surprising if SAA didn’t learn from its past experience being flanked. I more guess, that Daesh will try to utilize the very same again, with maybe some modifications, but that won’t change the outcome.
As such, it comes down to the question, if Daesh has enough firepower at hand to blunt SAAs attack and to drive them back, which might initially be successful. But, on the long term I can’t see Daesh accomplishing anything meaningful.
Jan Tjarks – months ago before the advance on Palmyra began ISIS tried offensives against SAA positions west of Palmyra and were easily repulsed by ordinary line units. The advance on Der Ezzor is being carried out by some of the best combat units Syria can muster. ISIS mobility and firepower have significantly degraded in the past few months: in July President Trump ended the CIA covert arms supply that Obama initiated and may well have gotten the Saudis back off on at least some of their support for ISIS in the Gulf summit meeting a few months ago, the British are withdrawing their special forces units from the area, and the SAA have cut off many of the routes through which ISIS gets their manpower and supply.
Given these facts, I would doubt that ISIS has the capability to mount any sort of effective offensive operations, but they remain rather stout defenders in built-up and fortified areas. Perhaps the best strategy for the SAA right now would be to engage in ‘risky’ movements that leave some of their best units ‘exposed’ in order to draw ISIS fighters out of their fortifications and into hopeless counterattacks where they can be massacred by air and artillery.
Mobility is a key factor in modern warfare and right now the SAA has it while ISIS increasingly does not. By assaulting fortifications the SAA is voluntarily giving up one of it chief advantages and playing into one of the few remaining strengths of ISIS.
This is the reason why I doubted that Daesh would have enough firepower to make a real difference. After DE is secured, Daesh will have to face even worse consequences.
However, we shouldn’t underestimate Daesh either, that leads to massive failures. SAA seems to have learned their lessons.
Regarding war of movement, SAA only lately became increasingly proficient at it since it regained its strength, but didn’t master it yet. However, that already is a very positive development if we think of the fact that SAA developed their combat skills and tactics during a war, in which it nearly got annihilated before. SAA is rising out of its own ashes.
I’m quite sure that SAA is extensively probing weak spots in Daesh lines to use them at their advantage. Already the main thrust north from the As-Sukhna road shows that they weren’t going the obvious route, which probably would have been the most difficult one.
“I would advice “..who made you a zero star general sir?
As I was mentioned before, SAA should had establish bigger buffer zone south of DZ highway, before storming Deir Ezzor to prevent any ISIS counter attack from South of DZ highway and cut SAA supply line. No the only option I see for SAA is to continue advance to Deir Ezzor from all sides in the way that advances will also includes advances behind ISIS defence line and outflank ISIS from behind including DZ Airport and press South and North along the river and leave the liberation of the center of the city for later, when SAA establish safe buffer zone especially the DZ Airport at least 15 km for helicopter and a least 35 km for Air transport. SAA should have enough force to do both, because the units that have been defended DZ can be rearm and get heavy weapons to make those advances.
If SAA has enough units they could also try liberate DZ center. It’s all depends on frontline.
SAA should also continue North from DZ and close the packet
Joe, you’re a ball and chain, what with your endless carping. You’re going to bleat all the way to the triumph of the Syrian army!
They have enough men for the front line of this HWY! Also any isis infiltration of this will easily be taken back because isis cannot flank them or surround them.
15 km for helicopters and 35km for air transport?
Dude, this is not the US army and Daesh does have all the modern anti air assets …. not.
Look like Ghanim al-Ali front is diversionary tactic of SAA to lure out isis from Deir Ezzor and make job easy from Sukhna-Deir Ezzor highway front. All the best SAA
It remind me epic battle of Elephant Pass
http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1710/17100100.htm http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/40786 http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1709/17091240.htm
Now is a good time for SAA start offensive South of Raqqa CS, while DZZ advances continue to split ISIS forces
The recent bombings of Madan show us signs this may be happening very soon!
Refer image attached. What capabilities isis having in blue rounded circle? …Are they man less desert?
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d93c189a3842443ddb9e141a2345220f49234112c787f2db1d3153718db646f1.png .
Just Dobayat Gas Field is located in this area which is under ISIS Control but have no strategic importance. ISIS cannot move from T2 Airbase into this area as Humayma is also under SAA Control. Extend your circle right upto euphrates its all barron desert. ISIS can try sending there forces from Euphrates belt like Mayadin to Doubat gas fields but they are hundreds of Kilometers apart. Doubat gas field is near sukhna so calculate what ISIS really can do about it. In short this area is black only becasue SAA is not focusing on it it has no Importance for now.
bravo
HTS wont attack Hama and Aleppo till SAA defeat ISIS in DZ…I think Turks stopped them because Erdogan know that Kurds seek DZ petrol oild fields (to link with Kirkut) there and have the support of US troops!….Erdogan has a problem…if he releases his dogs vs SAA..then Kurds take advantage and gain ground!…and the worst the creation of a kurdish rich petrol state, well armed and enemy of Turkey!….. Mr Erdogan please think twice and tie your dogs!.
So the SAA and Turks have common interests! This is the REAL meaning of allies in wars! Common Interests and its level of priority!
SAA and Turks are enemies!..but both know that Kurds want to “fish in trouble waters”!
Kurds will be opportunists! So yes I agree.
Russia must promptly watch coalition movements their may easily airlift all Raqqa ISIS and others with them to Deir Ezzor.USA can claim fake victory in Raqqa any moment now that SAA defeats ISIS in Deir Ezzor.
Wow! That’s good news.