Military escalation | ISIS steps up its operations, while over 100 airstrikes pound different positions in the Syrian desert
Syrian Observatory activists have documented the death of a regime-backed militiaman and the injury of three others, after an IED explosion in their car nearby Al-Sukhnah desert in the eastern countryside of Homs. Also, a member of the Lebanese Hezbollah was killed in an IED explosion in Al-Tabani desert in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor.
On the other hand, Observatory activists have monitored intensive bombardment by Russian jets and regime jets and helicopters on several positions in the Syrian desert, as Russian jets have executed over 55 airstrikes, regime jets executed 40 airstrikes, while regime helicopters dropped over ten barrel bombs. Accordingly, the number of today’s airstrikes on the Syrian desert have exceeded 105.
A few hours ago, SOHR activists reported seeing regime fighter jets taking off from Hama military airbase, where they struck ISIS positions nearby the road between Atharya and Khanaser in the eastern countryside of Hama. This development came after cessation of regime aerial operations for nearly 11 months, as aerial operations on the Syrian desert were confined to the Russian jets in this period.
SOHR sources had reported that the regime-backed “National Defence Forces” (NDF) launched a combing campaign this morning in Faydat Ibn Muwayni’ area in Al-Mayadeen desert, searching for ISIS cells. It is worth noting that 34 military vehicles participated in the combing campaign, as they were seen heading from Al-Mayadeen city to the desert.
Meanwhile, SOHR activists reported seeing Russian jets executing more than 25 airstrikes on ISIS positions in the Syrian desert in the past 24 hours.
Yesterday, SOHR activists monitored a new explosion in the eastern countryside of Homs, caused by the detonation of an IED in regime soldiers on Palmyra road, killing three soldiers and injuring others.
A day earlier, SOHR sources said that Russian jets executed more than 20 airstrikes on the Syrian desert, while military operations continued in various areas in the Syrian desert.