ISIS resurgence in Syrian desert | Members renew attacks on regime forces’ positions in eastern Hama, and Russian jets intensify airstrikes
SOHR activists say that the military operations continue on several frontlines in the Syrian desert.
Fierce clashes resume between regime forces and loyal militias on the one hand, and Islamic State members on the other hand, on frontlines of the eastern countryside of Hama, coinciding with renewed airstrikes by Russian Air Force and regime helicopters, amid further casualties on both sides.
The ISIS group have targeted a column of regime forces in al-Sukhna area in Homs desert, on the administrative border with Deir ez-Zor, leaving casualties and destroying regime vehicles.
Two days ago, Syrian Observatory sources reported a new round of intensive airstrikes on the eastern countryside of Hama in the Syrian desert, as Russian jets and regime helicopters are bombarding ISIS positions in the areas of Al-Rahjan and Athariyah with rockets and barrel bombs. The intensive bombardment coincides with ongoing fierce clashes between regime forces and loyalists on one hand, and “Islamic State” on the other.
Three days ago, SOHR sources reported that the frontlines of Al-Rahjan, Al-Shakousiyyah and Athariyah in the eastern countryside of Hama in the Syrian desert experienced ongoing fierce battles between regime forces and loyalists on one hand, and “Islamic State” on the other, as a part of ISIS attack on regime positions. These violent and intense ISIS attacks were inflecting heavy human and material losses on regime.
Despite the considerable participation of Russian fighter jets and regime jets and helicopters in repelling ISIS attacks, ISIS continued its attacks on the fourth consecutive day. Moreover, ISIS managed to capture a regime military post and seized weapons and ammunition of regime forces in Athariyah countryside.
Meanwhile, SOHR activists documented further fatalities on both sides as a result of the intensive aerial and ground shelling and fierce clashes during the past 90 hours. The number of fatalities among regime forces and loyalists rose to 39, while ISIS lost 22 members so far. The death toll is expected to rise further, as several soldiers and members have been injured, some seriously.
Since 24th of March 2019, SOHR has documented the killing of at least 887 regime soldiers and loyalists of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, including at least two Russians, and 140 Iranian-backed militiamen of non-Syrian nationalities. All were killed in attacks, bombings and ambushes by the “Islamic State”, west of Euphrates in the deserts of Deir Ezzor, Homs, and Al-Suwaidaa.
Also, four civilians working in gas fields, 11 shepherds and four other people were killed and documented by SOHR in the same period, from late March 2019 until today. They were killed in attacks by ISIS cells. While 482 ISIS members were also killed in attacks and bombardment in the same period.