Syria : The dwindling fortunes of an embattled ISIS

There are reports that the Syrian regime forces have seized one of the last Islamic State enclaves in the central desert and advanced east into Deir Ezzor, continuously heaping pressure on the terrorists in their shrinking caliphate.

Syrian troops and allies have taken control of dozens of hills in the area between Sukhnah town in Homs and Shaer, near Palmyra. The territory, known as Badia, totals around 770 square miles.

Supported by Russian warplanes, the forces advanced on Sunday eight miles into Deir Ezzor.  The province has been held by Isis since 2014.  The militants have besieged government forces and civilians in the city of Deir Ezzor since 2015.  Regime forces are now within 40 miles of the capital.



Isis is on the verge of losing its de facto capital Raqqa, in Syria, and Tal Afar, one of its final footholds in Iraq.

Yesterday, Isis fighters were forced to relinquish their enclave on the border with Lebanon after a week-long battle with the Syrian army and Hezbollah.


President Assad


(Source : The Times, London)