Under Russian aerial cover…. The regime forces reach the outskirts of the last ISIS-controlled city in Homs Province
Following two months of escalated airstrikes on Al-Sukhnah … the regime forces are 5 km southwest of Al-Sukhnah city
The eastern desert of Homs is witnessing violent battles between the regime forces and their allied militiamen, of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, on one hand and ISIS on the other. The SOHR learned that clashes concentrated on Palmyra-Sukhnah road in an attempt by the regime forces to reach Al-Sukhnah, which is the last city in Homs Province that is still under the control of ISIS. It is also considered a new gateway for the regime forces to advance into Deir Ezzor, which is mostly controlled by ISIS.
The SOHR observed that the regime forces backed by their allied militiamen, of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities and under intensive aerial and artillery coverage, managed to make advancement that got them closer to Al-Sukhnah city. The regime forces are now 5 km southwest of the city, from Palmyra side. Violent clashes are also taking place between them and ISIS as the latter is sparing no effort to stop and prevent the regime forces from advancing more and from regaining control over Al-Sukhnah city, which is their last and largest stronghold in Homs Province.
Clashes between the regime forces and ISIS are accompanied by intensive violent shelling by the regime forces on positions of and areas under the control of ISIS. The shelling coincides with intensive raids by warplanes on areas of clashes; casualties were reported at both sides.
It is worth mentioning that the regime forces carried out during the past few weeks a number of simultaneous military operations that enabled them to regain control over thousands of square kilometers that used to be controlled by ISIS. Such operations also enabled them to reach important and strategic strongholds of ISIS, mainly in the desert extending from the southern countryside of Al-Raqqah to the border between Deir Ezzor and Homs, and from the border between Homs and Iraq till the eastern countryside of Hama. The regime forces managed to make such advancement through the support of their allied militiamen, of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, tribal forces that have been armed and trained by the Russians, and the Russian warplanes and helicopters. In fact, it is through such an aerial and artillery coverage that Russia would be able to regain control over the remaining ISIS-controlled areas which contain gas and oil fields.
The regime forces started in last June their escalation on Al-Sukhnah area, which is about 60 km northeast of Palmyra town, the control over which was regained by the regime forces few weeks ago. Warplanes have been shelling the area on a daily basis, causing damages to the civilians’ property and the fall of injuries. Such an escalation and the daily airstrikes on the city and the villages and highlands surrounding it followed the failure of the regime forces, who are about 40 km southwest of the city, to make a new advancement and thus reach the city they have been striving to control. The SOHR published then that in case the regime forces managed to regain control over Al-Sukhnah city in the eastern countryside of Homs, they would be able to advance towards the administrative border between the Syrian Desert and Deir Ezzor Province and thus execute a military operation in the Province which is mostly controlled by ISIS. It should be noted that Al-Sukhnah city is about 50 km away from that border.