Hours after withdrawing from the city, the “Islamic State” organization carries out attacks in the vicinity of al-Bokamal -the last city it used to control in the Syrian territory
Explosions continue to be heard in the far eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor near the Syrian-Iraqi border, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that the clashes are taking place in the vicinity of al-Bokamal city at the west bank of the Euphrates River in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, between the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces, the revolutionary Iranian Guards and the Lebanese Hezbollah; against members of the “Islamic State” organization, after attacks by the organization in the vicinity of the city, after the control of the gunmen loyal to the regime forces of non-Syrian nationalities on the city, which used to be the last city controlled by the “Islamic State organization in Syria, which also used to be considered the largest remaining stronghold of the organization in the province.
And the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published today that the regime forces backed by armed militiamen loyal to them of Syrian, Arab and Asian nationalities and the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces managed to advance in Al-Bokamal city on the border with Iraq, and managed to impose their full control over the city, which was the largest stronghold of ISIS in Syria, and this control came after the remaining members of the organization withdrew from the city, to its controlled areas remaining in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, after a corridor was opened for them by the gunmen loyal to the regime forces, while reliable sources confirmed to the Syrian Observatory that the regime forces started to sweep the city of mines and explosive devices which were planted by the organization earlier in the city.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored the successive collapse of the organization, which was escalated dramatically in Deir Ezzor Province with the end of the first third of September 2017, with the start of “Jazeera Storm” Operation led by the Syria Democratic Forces in the northern countryside of Deir Ezzor and east of the Euphrates which is connected to the southern countryside of Al-Hasakah, and by breaking the siege completely and effectively by the regime forces of its controlled areas in Deir Ezzor city, the regime forces and the Syria Democratic Forces escalated their operations against the “Islamic State” organization.
The accelerated advancement, intensive attacks, and some of the control operations that were carried out according to an agreements; provided the withdrawal for the “Islamic State” organization from areas in the countryside of Deir Ezzor, and enabled the attacking parties to extend their control within Deir Ezzor Province, where the organization which used to control about two years ago most of the province except for several square kilometers controlled by the regime forces within Deir Ezzor city and in its surroundings has lost most of its controlled areas, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored the decline of ISIS-controlled areas to at least 30% the area of Deir Ezzor Province, also the organization has become the last in terms of influence in Deir Ezzor, while the regime forces has topped the control list with more than 38% of the area of the province, and the Syria Democratic Forces is second with about 32% of Deir Ezzor Province’s area.
This decline and defeat of the organization has reached its peak today on Thursday the 9th of November 2017, where the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces and the gunmen loyal to the regime of Syrian, Arab and Asian nationalities have managed to take control of the city, which is the last border city with the Iraqi side for the organization, and the organization now controls the area stretching from the west of Bokamal to the east of Al-Mayadin, including al-Siyyal, al-Ramadi, al-Jala’a, Salhiya, al-Dwayr, al-Kashmeh, Sbikhan, Dablan, Gharibah, al-Asharah and al-Quriyah on the west banks of the Euphrates River, also it controls villages and towns of al-Busayrah, Al-Kasar, Al-ShHil, al-Hwaij, Thubyan, al-Tayyaneh, Shnan, Darnaj, al-Karama, al-Jerthi, Abu Hardoub, Abu Hamam, al-Kashkiyyeh, Gharanij, Al-Bahra, Hajin, Abu Hasan, al-Shafa, al-Susah, al-Marashdah and al-Shakla in the eastern banks of Euphrates River, as well as scattered oil wells and fields, which are “al-Ward oilfield and other wells in al-Bokamal Desert and al-Kashmeh Station”.
The regime forces control Deir Ezzor city and the entire section west of Euphrates from the northwestern countryside of Deir Ezzor, until the administrative borders with the eastern countryside of Al-Raqqah and the eastern banks of the Euphrates River opposite to Deir Ezzor city, also they advanced from Deir Ezzor city to Al-Mayadin city, which used to be the “capital of al-Khair State”, and controlled many villages, farms, towns and cities, until the village of Tabiyah Jazira.
While the Syria Democratic Forces controlled the entire east of the Euphrates from the northwestern administrative borders of Deir Ezzor with Al-Raqqah Province, down to the area opposite the al-Sh’aytat desert east of the Euphrates, which includes the largest oilfield in Syria: al-Omar oilfield, and the largest plant and gas field in Syria: Koniko field, and the fields of al-Tank, Sijan and al-Jufrah, and the villages and towns of al-Sabkha, al-Sor, Jdid Ekydat, Jdid Bakara, al-Kubar, Mhimideh, al-Sa’wa, Z’eir Jzira, al-Kasra, and other areas stretching from the north of Deir Ezzor city until the southern countryside of Al-Hasakah.