Syrian army, allied forces capture key towns west of Raqqah

Rasa - Syrian army soldiers backed by fighters from the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah have managed to liberate several key towns in the desert area west of Raqqah from Daesh Takfiri terrorists as they continue to score more territorial gains in battles against extremists across the Arab country.

News ID: 430312

Date: 13 June 2017 - 22:18

RNA - A military media unit run by Lebanon's Hezbollah said on Tuesday that the army made a sudden advance by capturing the villages of Rajm Askar, Bir Inbaj, Zahar Um Baj, Jab Aziz, Jab al-Ghanem, Abu Sousa and Jab Abyad from Daesh in western countryside of Raqqah.

Syrian government forces and their allies pushed southwards to the Ithriya-Tabqa highway.

The area between Ithriya and Tabqa is important for the army since it can be used to attack government-held towns and supply routes.

The road was used by the militants to attack positions along the government's main supply route to Aleppo near Ithriya. If the road is fully captured, it would help Syrian government forces advance into the desert.

Meanwhile, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that the Syrian army had advanced in that area. Al-Rusafa oil field is located nearby.

According to the observatory, the advance will help the army relieve pressure on the Ithriya-Khanaser road, part of the government's supply route to Aleppo.

The army has also launched several attacks to push Daesh back from the Salamiya-Ithriya road, part of the same supply route.

Different foreign-backed terrorist groups have been wreaking havoc in Syria since 2011. Over the past few months, Syrian forces have made sweeping gains against Takfiri elements, who have lately increased their acts of violence across the country following a series of defeats on the ground.

847/940