Syrian desert | ISIS kills 11 members of regime forces and loyal militias, and hundreds of Russian airstrikes fail to curb ISIS activities
SOHR sources say that clashes and exchange of fire continue in areas in the Syrian desert, between regime forces and loyalists on the one hand, and the Islamic State on the other, as part of the ongoing operations of the group in the region, which are met by combing operations by regime forces and loyalists, backed by Russian air support.
In this context, the Syrian Observatory has documented the killing of 11 members of the regime forces and loyalists, and the wounding of at least ten others in clashes with the group in rural Deir ez-Zor and Homs in the last 24 hours. Where six members of regime forces and Al-Quds Brigade militia were killed in clashes in the area of Al-Sukhna far east of Homs, while five members of regime forces and “Lions of Tribes” militia in the area of Jabal al-Bashri, south of Deir ez-Zor city.
It is worth noting that most fighters of “Lions of Tribes” militia are members of the Sha’itat clan, and the militia was formed after the massacre committed by the Islamic State in 2014.
The group’s major activities and operations come despite daily intensive Russian airstrikes, with Russian jets targeted with more than 900 airstrikes since the beginning of this month.
This brings the death toll of regime forces and allied militias since the beginning of the month, to 37 members.
Since 24th of March 2019, SOHR has documented the killing of at least 1,319 regime soldiers and loyalists of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, including at least two Russians, and 145 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 733 ISIS members were also killed in attacks and bombardment in the same period.
On February 10, SOHR sources said that in light of ISIS’ significant resurgence, the Syrian desert continued to witness major military operations, where the group intensifies its attacks and ambushes, draining regime forces, loyal militias and the Russians. Attacks, ambushes and other violent incidents are taking place daily in various areas in the Syrian desert, such as frontlines at the Aleppo-Hama-Raqqah triangle, and the deserts of Deir ez-Zor and Homs. On the other hand, Russian jets fly daily over these areas, executing dozens of airstrikes in an attempt to target and limit the group’s increasing activities.
Since the beginning of February, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has monitored approximately 700 airstrikes executed by Russian jets.
However, airstrikes did not result in losses commensurate with the scale and intensity of the strikes.
In 10 days, the Syrian Observatory has documented the deaths of 33 ISIS members in shelling and clashes, while at least 56 members of the regime forces and loyal militiamen, such as the Palestinian Al-Quds Brigade, the National Defense, the Baqir Brigade and other militias, were killed in the same period.
It is worth noting that 26 members were killed in an ambush in Deir ez-Zor countryside, and 19 were killed in a surprise attack by the group in eastern Hama, therefore, 45 members of regime forces were killed in two ISIS operations.