Violent clashes west of Deir Ezzor and ISIS and the regime carry out counterattacks under intensive aerial and ground bombardment and shelling
Deir Ezzor Province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: hours of the last night witnessed continuous aerial bombardments, where Russian and regime’s warplanes targeted areas controlled by the “Islamic State” organization and areas of its presence in the vicinity of Deir Ezzor city, and on the road between the cities of Deir Ezzor and Sukhnah, accompanied by violent clashes between the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities against members of the “Islamic State” organization in areas in the vicinity of al-Shola, in an attempt by the regime forces to control the town and advance more towards the western entrance of Deir Ezzor city, while the “Islamic State” organization carried out an attack on the Panorama roundabout area, within its attempt to achieve an advancement at the expense of the regime forces, and the clashes coincided with exchange of targeting between both parties and intense and heavy shelling by the regime forces on the clash areas, and on the areas of presence of the organization, amid confirmed information about casualties in the ranks of both parties caused by explosions, shelling, clashes and intense raids.
And the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published that the gap which was opened by the regime forces to reach the Brigade 137, was made through the minefield which was planted by the “Islamic State” organization previously in the vicinity of the Brigade 137, where the corridor is only 10 meters wide, while the violent fighting is still continuing between the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities on one hand, and the members of the “Islamic State” organization on the others, in areas in the vicinity of Al-Shawla village on Deir Ezzor – Al-Sukhnah Road, in an attempt by the regime forces to take the control of hills and positions in the vicinity of the village and its outskirts, preparing for controlling them, and the clashes are accompanied by intensive violent shelling by the regime forces and by the Russian as well as the regime’s warplanes and helicopters on the clash areas, and information about more casualties in the ranks of the both parties.
And the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published on Thursday the 7th of September 2017, that an aid convoy consisting of tens of trucks managed to arrive to Brigade 137, located at the outskirts of Deir Ezzor city, after the regime forces had managed to secure the passage leading to the area and expand the gap, which they created during the past 48 hours. This followed intensive shelling and violent clashes between the regime forces and their allied militiamen, of Syrian and non-Syrian militiamen, on one hand and ISIS on the other in areas in the vicinity of the Brigade. More trucks are expected to enter the area during the upcoming, amid the regime forces’ continued efforts to dismantle the mines and expand the gap. ISIS, on the other hand, continue their attempts to block the gap and impose full siege again on the Brigade which is linked to the area besieged in the northwestern part of Deir Ezzor city.
This continued fighting in the vicinity of Brigade 137 is accompanied by violent clashes between the regime forces and their allied militiamen, of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, on one hand and ISIS on the other on Deir Ezzor – Al-Sukhnah road. The SOHR learned that such violent fighting is concentrated in the vicinity of Al-Shola area, amid intensive shelling by the regime forces and warplanes and helicopters which have been targeting Al-Shola area and the vicinity of Al-Sukhnah – Palmyra road with tens of airstrikes since dawn today, Thursday the 9th of September. Meanwhile, the regime forces are trying to expand their scope of control in the vicinity of the road to have it fully secured against the counter attacks carried out by ISIS on the area. The SOHR observed that the regime forces managed to minimize the area separating them from Al-Panorama Roundabout to about 25 kilometers after ISIS had previously managed to force them to retreat to Kabajeb area of which they had taken full control during the past few days.
And the SOHR documented the death of at least 29 members of the regime forces and their allied militiamen, including 4 officers at least. On the other hand, it documented the death of at least 72 ISIS members, including 16 who blew up themselves using explosive belts and 7 using booby-trapped vehicles. In addition, the intensive shelling, violent fighting and bombings caused the injury of tens of members of both parties, with a varied degree of severity. Thus, the death toll is still likely to rise.