The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Syrian desert | Russian forces and 5th Corps launch new security campaign against ISIS in Deir Ezzor and Homs

SOHR sources have reported that Russian forces and their proxy militiamen of the 5th Corps have launched a combing campaign this morning in the area from south Deir Ezzor desert to Al-Sukhnah desert in the eastern countryside of Homs, in search for ISIS cells which are prevalent in the Syrian desert. The campaign coincided with frequent flights by Russian helicopters and airstrikes by Russian jets, which targeted positions in the region.

 

It is worth noting that ISIS announced, 48 hours ago, that it managed to shot dead to Russian soldiers during an airdrop in Al-Sukhnah desert in the eastern countryside of Homs. However, SOHR could not verify these claims.

 

On April 18, SOHR sources reported that Russian jets executed new airstrikes on ISIS positions in the Syrian desert, as they carried out over 70 airstrikes in the past 24 hours, targeting positions in Itheriya and its surrounding areas in the eastern countryside of Hama, Al-Rasafah desert in Al-Raqqah countryside, positions in Hama-Aleppo-Al-Raqqah triangle and positions on the administrative border between Al-Raqqah and Deir Ezzor. The airstrikes hit caves and bunkers, which is very likely that ISIS members were holed up in, as well as the back lines in an attempt to put an end to ISIS activity in the region, amid reports of casualties.