The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces and the fighters loyal to the regime storm Bokamal city and violent clashes in the city with controlling parts of the largest stronghold of organization in Syria

Deir Ezzor Province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: the city of al-Bokamal is witnessing violent explosions caused by the intense shelling by the gunmen loyal to the regime and by the regime forces on areas in the city, which is the largest remaining stronghold of the “Islamic State” organization in Syria, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that the violent clashes broke out between the gunmen loyal to the regime of Syrian, Arab and Asian nationalities, and the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces against members of the “Islamic State” organization of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, in areas in the southern and western parts of Bokamal city, where fighters loyal to the regime managed to break into the city and control parts of it, amid exchange of targeting between both parties, where the forces that stormed the city by escalating their shelling they aim to force the “Islamic State” organization to withdraw from the city, which is located near the Syrian-Iraqi border at the western banks of Euphrates River.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published hours ago that the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces entered the Syrian territory and went to fight with the forces loyal to the Syrian regime of non-Syrian nationalities, and they had besieged Bokamal city, the last stronghold of the “Islamic State “organization in the Syrian territory from the south side and east side, and the Syrian Observatory published hours ago that the  violent fighting is continuing in the eastern section of Deir Ezzor province between the regime forces backed by armed militiamen loyal to them of Syrian, Arab and Asian nationalities against the members of the “Islamic State” organization, as a part of the continuous military operations of the regime forces that target to take the control of Al-Bokamal city which is the last stronghold of the “Islamic State” organization in the Syrian territory, which is located on the Syrian – Iraqi border, and the clashes are concentrated in two main fronts, one of them is the south-western desert of Al-Bokamal, at a distance of less than 15 km away from the city, where the organization fights desperately to rebel the regime’s advancement into this front, despite the intensive aerial, artillery and rocket shelling by the regime forces as well as warplanes and helicopters affiliated to the regime and Russia, on the controlled areas of the organization and its positions.

While the violent clashes are continuing between the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities against the members of the “Islamic State” organization of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, in places in the vicinity of Al-Quriyah area, which the regime forces are trying to take the control of it, after 10 days of losing the town, and after they were expelled by the organization, and the regime forces are trying to impose their control over Al-Quriyah which is located in the west of the Euphrates River in the western countryside of Al-Bokamal city, and the clashes are accompanied by intensive artillery and rocket shelling, amid renewing the bombardment on areas in the town, which witnessed during the past 24 hours, tens of missiles and explosive barrels that targeted areas there.

And the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published yesterday that 24 members at least of the regime forces backed by armed militiamen loyal to them of Syrian, Arab and Asian nationalities were killed during less than 36 hours of the clashes in Al-Bokamal and Bakrus deserts, and the shelling, the fighting and the explosions resulted in the fall of a great number of injuries, some of them have seriously wounded, while members of the organization were also killed in the same clashes, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published on the 5th of November 2017, that al-Bokamal city and other areas in its countryside and desert are witnessing bombing by helicopters believed to be Russian and other unidentified warplanes that entered the Syrian-Iraqi border from the eastern side, and these warplanes heavily targeted areas in Bokamal city, its desert and countryside, which is the largest remaining stronghold of the “Islamic State” organization in the Syrian territory, and these intense airstrikes come after the regime forces were able to get closer to L-Bokamal city, where the regime forces and militiamen loyal of Syrian, Arab and Asian nationalities are now less than 15 km away of Bokamal city, the Syrian Observatory also published that the southern desert of Al-Bukamal witness violent clashes, through which the regime forces seek to advance more towards Al-Bukamal city and control the city, which is the largest bastion of ISIS in Syria. The SOHR learned that the violent clashes are taking place between the regime forces and their allied militiamen of Syrian, Arab and Asian nationalities against members of ISIS of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, where the regime forces managed to advance in the area of T2 station and became less than 15 km away from Al-Bukamal city, after controlling Okash field, while the area is witnessing heavy shelling by the regime forces and aerial bombardment by warplanes and helicopters affiliated to the regime and Russia, on areas controlled by ISIS, amid an exchange of shelling between both parties in areas in the southwestern desert of Al-Bukamal, amid more killing of members of both parties in these battles, and The SOHR learned from several reliable sources that a group of the Popular Mobilization Forces has entered the Syrian territory and began to operate under the umbrella of Al-Nujaba’ Iraqi Movement, which has been fighting along the regime forces in many fronts in the Syrian desert and other areas.