The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Around 75 dead and tens injured within 24 hours of military operations in Homs dessert … more than half of the casualties are among the regime forces and their allied militiamen

The death toll continues to rise among the regime forces and their allied militiamen in the eastern countryside of Homs as a result of the explosions caused by landmines and the successive ISIS attacks on several areas there using booby-trapped vehicles targeting positions of the regime forces in Homs dessert. Thus, the SOHR continues to document more casualties. On one hand, the number of fatalities among the regime forces and their allied militiamen, of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, rose to 39 at least, including 3 officers and a militiaman who was executed. They were killed during the past 24 hours as a result of explosions of landmines in Al-Sukhna city, booby trap bombs planted by ISIS in vehicles in the areas of Hamiyma, Palmyra silos and the Third station, and in attacks by ISIS on the eastern countryside of Homs. In addition, bombings, clashes and landmine explosions left more than 25 of the regime forces and their allied militiamen injured, with varied degrees of severity. On the other hand, at least 35 ISIS members, including 5 suicide bombers, died in shelling, clashes, Russian airstrikes and attacks on positions of the regime forces and their allied militiamen in the eastern countryside of Homs. In addition, tens of ISIS members were injured in these operations.

It is worth mentioning that the SOHR published on the 19th of July 2017 that the SOHR observed that the “Islamic State” organization hung several bodies in several villages at the countryside of Deir Ezzor. Specifically, it was documented by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: the “Islamic State” organization and in conjunction with its execution for 3 members of the regime forces at al-Fayha’a Square in al-Bokamal city in the countryside of Deir Ezzor by knives and then crucifying them, it spread the bodies of 5 members of the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them of Syrian nationality, and crucified them at the bridges of Salhiya village, Abbas village, Train Station in Hasrat village, and in the roundabout of al-Sekkariyyeh village and the entrance of al-Jala’a town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, one body was crucified in each area while those who were executed were crucified in al-Bokamal city.

Reliable sources confirmed to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights that the members who were executed by the organization were captured within the last 24 hours in the area of Wadi Al-Wa’er and its Dam on the administrative border between the southeastern countryside of Deir Ezzor and the countryside of Homs near the Syrian-Iraqi border, also the five dead bodies were taken from the same place, where the organized carried out this attack on the area to show its presence and strength, and to send a message to the public opinion and to its supporters that it is still capable of carrying out attacks that will kill and injurie members of the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them.