The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

ISIS shells positions of regime forces and loyalists in Deir Ezzor

SOHR sources have reported that members of the “Islamic State” organization carried out intensive shelling with mortars this evening, on positions of the regime forces and loyal militias in the area of Al-Badia that expands from Al-Dwayr village to Al-Jalaa town in Deir Ezzor countryside.

Meanwhile, the regime forces responded with targeting Al-Badia area with heavy artillery and fired flares over Al-Abbas village in Al-Bokamal countryside.

It is noteworthy that the area where today’s exchange of fire took place, is located near the site where a regime military bus was ambushed this morning.

According to SOHR sources; a bus carrying members of the regime’s 11th Division was ambushed on the International Highway near Subaykhan town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. The attack left at least seven soldiers dead as well as the injury of 14 others.

SOHR sources confirmed that ISIS cells are active in this area.

Yesterday, SOHR reported about the mass execution in Al-Raqqah Desert that occurred on the 4th of January 2020. SOHR sources could confirm the killing of 19 civilians in Al-Sabkha Desert which is under control of the regime forces. Also five other civilians have gone missing.

According to the sources; the victims were shot after being shackled, but identity of the perpetrators has been still unknown.

On January 3, SOHR very reliable sources have reported that several explosions took place on Deir Ezzor – Palmyra Highway near Al-Sukhna area in Homs countryside.

They were caused by the explosion of IEDs planted by ISIS members for the purpose of targeting military vehicles of the regime forces and Iranian militias that take this way to Damascus.

The sources said that at least one military vehicle broke down and many soldiers were injured due to these explosions.

On December 26, an explosion of a landmine planted by “Islamic State” in the desert of Deir Ezzor, exploded while vehicles of the Palestinian Brigade Al Quds were passing by.

The blast targeted the commander of the brigade of Deir Ezzor sector, injuring him in addition to killing at least five members, while two regime officers were killed in targeting by “IS” in al-Bukamal desert in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, as part of “IS” continued growing activity in Syrian desert.

Since December 20, “IS” was able to kill 30 members of regime forces and militias loyal to them in the Syrian desert through attacks, targets, ambushes and blasts, at the same period, four civilians working at a gas station were killed, about 12 km from Al-Hail gas field in Homs desert near the administrative border of Deir Ezzor province.