RNA - "The number of Chinese Special Forces in Syria is likely to hit 5,000," the Russian-language Nezavisimaya Gazeta daily reported.
The Russian newspaper pointed to the scarce presence of the Chinese army in its extraterritorial conflicts except for few during the past century, and wrote that the Chinese army by rendering military assistance to the Syrian government gained experience of real war and it would test it modern weapons in Syria as the Russian army did there.
It noted that the Chinese military units not only would cooperate with Damascus, but they would also fully coordinate with the Russian military forces.
The newspaper wrote that a joint military unit might be formed among China, Russia and Syria.
In the meantime, the field sources reported that the Syrian Army troops have been engaged in tough battle against terrorists across the country on Thursday.
Deir Ezzur
The Syrian army continued its military operations in Southeastern Deir Ezzur and put an end to ISIL's presence on the West Bank of the Euphrates River.
The Syrian army continued its advances after linking its operation lines from Albu Kamal to al-Mayadeen in Eastern Deir Ezzur, and managed to take control of al-Tash, al-Qabreh, Qaleh Mari and Tal-e Hariri.
The Syrian army killed a large number of ISIL terrorists in its military operations in Eastern Deir Ezzur and destroyed many of their armored vehicles.
The Syrian army units also seized large amounts of weapons, tanks and military equipment while destroying tens of bomb-laden vehicles.
Meantime, battlefield sources announced that the Syrian army fully put an end to ISIL's presence on the West Bank of Euphrates River by taking control over the remaining ISIL-controlled areas located between al-Ashayer in Western Albu Kamal and East of al-Jala town.
The Syrian army has also restored full security to Deir Ezzur-Al-Mayadeen-Albu Kamal highway up to the border with Iraq.
Meanwhile, informed sources disclosed that the ISIL terrorist group ushered in a new wave of arrests against its senior commanders in a bid to maintain its last military positions in Southeastern Deir Ezzur.
The ISIL arrested several of its senior commanders, including Mohammad Hossein al-Deiri, nom du guerre Abu Seif al-Shaiti, and Abdulmajid al-Khalaf al-Qadir, nom du guerre Abu Omar al-Zubeidi, by raiding their residences, the local sources said.
The sources said that Abu Seif was one of the most senior ISIL commanders who paved the way for the terrorist group to dominate over Deir Ezzur, and played an important role in the massacre of al-Shaitat by the ISIL in summer 2014.
The ISIL has charged the arrested commanders of espionage and also attempts to escape.
The Syrian army continued its military operations against the ISIL in Southeastern Deir Ezzur, and regained control of several regions and towns there.
The Syrian army troops clashed with the ISIL terrorists in Southeastern Deir Ezzur and took control of the towns of al-Jala, al-Ramadi, al-Baqan, al-Hasran, al-Moslekheh, al-Barhoum, al-Salam and Tal al-Nabi.
The Syrian army killed tens of ISIL terrorists in fierce clashes with them and also destroyed their 18 military vehicles.
Meantime, the Syrian troops are less than 10 kilometers away from their comrades in Northern Albu Kamal in al-Hamdan region.
Hama
The Syrian army continued its military operations against the Al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at or the Levant Liberation Board) in Northeastern Hama, and made considerable advances towards a strategic military base of the terrorist group.
The Syrian army units engaged in heavy clashes with Al-Nusra Front terrorists in Northeastern Hama, and advanced towards Tal al-Rahjan and al-Rahjan Farm from two directions.
Meantime, the Syrian air force heavily pounded the terrorists' military positions in Northeastern Hama, specially al-Rahjan village, and inflicted heavy losses on the terrorists.
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