Clashes continue in the east of the Euphrates within the continuation of the second most violent attack by ISIS on the positions of the SDF in the recent days
Deir Ezzor Province – The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: the violent clashes are still continuing in the areas of Hajin, Al-Sha’afa, Al-Susah and other areas in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, between the Syria Democratic Forces supported by the International Coalition against the members of the “Islamic State” organization of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, as a part of the ongoing second counterattack of kind by members of the organization exploiting the bad weather in the area, while the SDF are trying to absorb the attacks and expel them with the help and support of the International Coalition’s warplanes which target the area every now and then, while the clashes and ongoing shelling left more human losses in the ranks of the both parties, and this second attack comes after the organization’s most violent attack which it launched on the dawn of Wednesday the 10th of October 2018.
And the Syrian Observatory published hours ago, that it monitored that the “Islamic State” organization with its cells, launched a new attack exploiting the bad weather in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, and the second sand storm, which the organization exploited in order to carry out a new attack after the fiercest and most violent attack in the area on the 10th of October 2018, and reliable sources confirmed to the Syrian Observatory that violent clashes are taking place between the Syria Democratic Forces against the members of the “Islamic State” organization, in areas in the vicinity and outskirts of the last enclave controlled by the organization, in conjunction with an attack by ISIS cells on the road between the contact lines and the area of the oilfields in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, and blocked the roads to the fronts, where the SDF transported its operation room from the area of Al-Tank Oilfield to the area of Al-Qal’a near Al-Baghuz area east of the Euphrates, but they were not able to reach the latter area due to the road blocking.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also learned that the SDF have drawn all the vehicle of the displaced people of Al-Bahra Camp and lodged them in one of their departments until the release of the abductees held by the organization, in the enclave it controls in the east of the Euphrates, while the SOHR monitored a column of the International Coalition of 15 Hummer vehicles, heading towards the battle fronts and contact lines with the organization in the enclave which is located at the eastern banks of the Euphrates River, and the Syrian Observatory published hours ago, that the military operation on the east bank of Euphrates River in the countryside of Deir Ezzor province; has entered its sixth consecutive week with continuous fighting, renewed shelling, and continuous reinforcements, where the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored the continuation clashes at a varying rate of violence between the Syria Democratic Forces against members of the “Islamic State” Organization, on the outskirts of the ISIS-controlled enclave at the east bank of Euphrates River, and the Syrian Observatory monitored the clashes concentrating in areas of Hajin, al-Baghuz, and al-Susah, amid continuous advancement attempts but delayed by SDF fearing new counterattacks by tunnels or the explosion of mines planted by ISIS in the area, and the clashes are accompanied by artillery and missile shelling by the Syria Democratic Forces and the Coalition on the “Islamic State” organization’s-controlled areas and positions.
The Syrian Observatory published yesterday Sunday that the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored the continuation of military operations and reinforcing the fronts and contact lines with the “Islamic State” organization with equipment, ammunition, and shells, on the outskirts and perimeter of the enclave under its control at the east banks of Euphrates River, where the Syrian Observatory monitored the movement of 28 American Hummer vehicles with 6 military vehicles to and from the contact lines with the “Islamic State” Organization, in conjunction with the continuation of artillery and missile shelling by the Syria Democratic Forces and the International Coalition on the “Islamic State” organization’s-controlled areas in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, where the shelling continues as the clashes continue at a varying pace with violence between the Syria Democratic Forces and members of the “Islamic State” organization in the areas of Hajin, al-Sousah, and Baghuz, amid exchange of targeting in the clash areas, while reliable sources confirmed that a the explosion of mines in members of the Syria Democratic Forces killed 6 of them, also the sources confirmed that ISIS cells had exploited the sandstorm in recent days, exploited the military operations of Syria Democratic Forces and the Coalition against it, and planted improvised explosive devices on different main and sub-roads in the rear lines of the fronts, and in roads used by civilians, military personnel, and media teams, to inflict as many casualties as possible even after the clashes stop, and reliable sources confirmed to the Syrian Observatory that the organization is conducting investigations with the 130 families it kidnapped from al-Bahra camp in the vicinity of the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, while the Syrian Observatory received reliable information that negotiations are underway on the release of abductees kidnapped by ISIS, in exchange of its receive of food and medical supplies, also the information talked about the rejection of the offer by the International Coalition.
While the Syrian Observatory monitored aerial bombardments by the International Coalition warplanes targeted Hajin area, amid shelling on areas in the town and its surroundings, and with more casualties in five days of violent clashes and heavy shelling it rose to 67 at least, the number of members and fighters of the Syria Democratic Forces, while at least 83 of ISIS members have been killed, including 11 suicidal bombers blew themselves up using explosive belts, and more than 160 were injured of both sides, in addition to 10 people the Organization executed within the enclave it controls, thus, it rose to at least 348, the number of ISIS members who were killed in the ongoing clashes and the Coalition’s strikes, while 206 members at least have been killed of the Syria Democratic Forces since the start of military operations on the 10th of September 2018, one of whom has served as a field commander in Deir Ezzor Military Council of the Syria Democratic Forces, while the death toll is expected to increase due to the presence of information about other casualties as well as the presence of injured cases in serious conditions, the Syrian Observatory also documented the death of 7 citizens they are: 2 child girls were killed in shelling by the SDF on ISIS enclave, and the rest were killed in shelling by the International Coalition on the same enclave.