Fighting continues in Rif Dimashq dessert and Al-Qalamoun barrens between the regime forces, the factions and ISIS

Rif Dimashq Province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: clashes continue between the regime forces and their allied militiamen on one hand and Ahmad Al-Abdo Forces and Jaysh Usud Al-Sharqiyah on the other, in areas in the dessert located in the southeastern part of Rif Dimashq, in an attempt by each party to the fighting to take a step ahead of the other. Clashes are accompanied by shelling by the regime forces and an exchange of targeting at areas of clashes. The factions managed to cause damage to one of the regime’s armored vehicles in the area. Casualties were reported at both sides.

On the other hand, clashes continued between the regime forces and their allied militiamen, of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, on one hand and ISIS on the other in other areas in the barrens of the Western Qalamoun at the Syrian-Lebanese border. Such violent clashes are accompanied by intensive shelling by the regime forces on areas of clashes, in an attempt by the latter, backed by the Lebanese Hezbollah, to advance more into the area. The regime forces along with the Lebanese Hezbollah did manage to advance and take control of new hills and heights, including Qarnt Tom Al-Mal, Al-Daleel height and Wadi Al-Hamam. The SOHR published the day before yesterday that the regime forces managed, under the cover of intensive missile strikes and backed by the Lebanese Hezbollah, to advance again and take control of Moshtaqa Crossing in the barren mountains of Qara and of new hills there in addition to Ras Shahout Crossing and other heights that used to be under the control of ISIS, in an attempt by the former to end the presence of the later at the Syrian-Lebanese border. Thus, it would have full control over the border except for a few kilometers opposite to Shab’a area, from the side of the southwestern section of Rif Dimashq. The SOHR published on Wednesday that that the regime forces and the Lebanese Hezbollah managed to advance more as they took control, with three days only, of tens of square kilometers of an area of around 120 km2 under the control of ISIS in the barrens of the Western Qalamoun. The SOHR also published that the regime forces backed by the Lebanese Hezbollah managed to advance again into tens of square kilometers out of a total area of 120 square kilometers under the control of ISIS. They successfully managed to take control of She’bet Al-Sabwa, Zaleel Khemam, She’bet Bayt Abu Ali, She’ab Al-Haditha, Wadi Al-Nejas, Jab Kawla, Shmees Plateau and other areas, which used to be under the control of ISIS before the regime forces launched its attack six day ago. The SOHR also published on Tuesday that clashes are accompanied by intensive shelling by the regime forces on areas of clashes, amid bombings by drones deployed by members of Hezbollah to hit the positions and fortifications of ISIS. Warplanes also carried out several raids on the barren mountains of the Western Qalamoun. The new areas, the control over which was wrested by Hezbollah and the regime forces, include Qarnat She’bet Akku, Qarnat Ajloun, Wadi Al-Shahout, She’bet Al-Dawab, Al-Qsirah and Tem El-Mal and other areas in the barren mountains of Qalamoun near the border with the Lebanon. The SOHR also published on Sunday that areas in the barren mountains of the Western Qalamoun were witnessing continued fighting for two days in a row between the regime forces, their allied militiamen and the Lebanese Hezbollah on one hand and ISIS on the other. Clashes came as a result of the former’s continued attacks on about 120 square kilometers under the control of the organization shortly before the start of this attack on Saturday, the 20th of August 2017. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that the regime forces were able to advance into more locations, hills and heights, which were controlled by the organization, including Qarnat Madd Mahbas, Shuaibet Al-Zwaytineh, Qarnat She’bet Al-Qadi, Sen Meeri, Watiyat Al-Zamrani, Kherbat Qar Ali and other areas in the Western Qalamoun. The SOHR had also published on Saturday, the 19th of August, that shelling continued between the regime forces and the Lebanese Hezbollah on one hand, and the members of the “Islamic State” organization on the other, on areas in the barren mountains of the Western Qalamoun, at the Syrian-Lebanese border. Clashes started as a result of an attack by the regime forces and Hezbollah on the area, in an attempt to end the presence of the “Islamic State” organization there. The SOHR observed that Hezbollah and the regime forces managed to advance into large number of points, hills and positions which used by under the control of the organization, regaining control over tens of square kilometers out of about 120 square kilometers, which were controlled by the organization before the attack started. Clashes were accompanied by intensive missile and artillery shelling by the regime forces on areas of clashes. Clashes left dead and injured at both sides. The areas over which the regime forces managed to regain control include Al-Zamrani Crossing and heights in the barren mountains of Bureij, the barren mountains Al-Jarajir, the barren mountains of Qara, and the heights of Fikha and its Crossing.