ISIS resurgence | Large-scale attack targets regime positions in Al-Raqqa desert, amid Russian airstrikes

ISIS fighters have mounted a large-scale attack on positions and post where regime forces and National Defence Forces are deployed in Al-Rusafah desert, south of Al-Raqqa province, injuring more than 12 members of National Defence and regime Forces, amid reports on deaths.

This attack has coincided with intensive Russian airstrikes on ISIS hideouts in the area and ongoing confrontations between SDF, Asayish and counter-terrorism forces on one hand, and ISIS prisoners on the other in the vicinity of Ghuwayran prison in Al-Hasakah city.

On January 20, Regime forces, backed by militias loyal to them, conducted intensive combing operations targeting ISIS hideouts and hotbeds in the Syrian desert, starting from the eastern desert of Homs through Hama-Aleppo-Al-Raqqa triangle to Deir Ezzor and Al-Raqqa deserts.

Regime forces also targeted ISIS positions with heavy guns.

This combing campaign coincided with airstrikes executed by Russian fighter jets and Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying over the desert.