Syrian Army, Hezbollah Reinvigorate Positions at Border with Iraq Regardless of US Army Warnings

Rasa - Syrian Army forces and the Lebanese Hezbollah fighters established several fortified positions along the Syrian-Iraqi border in spite of the US-led coalition's warning and its air raid on army positions in al-Tanf region in Southeastern Homs in May and earlier this month.

News ID: 430341

Date: 15 June 2017 - 23:22

RNA - The Syrian pro-government forces fortified their positions along the Syrian-Iraqi border near Al-Boudah village South-East of Homs a few kilometers from the al-Tanf border crossing, where the Washington forces are training anti-Syrian government Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters.

A military source pointed to the presence of the Syrian and Iraqi forces at the joint border, saying Damascus and Baghdad are to kick off an imminent operation against ISIL at borders.

A military source confirmed Sunday that the first units of the Syrian Army troops and popular forces deployed at the borders with Iraq Northeast of al-Tanf border-crossing, starting to fortify their positions in the region.

The source stressed that with the recent advance, the army closed off the path to the US and British forces, preventing their penetration from Southern Syria to the Eastern Deir Ezzur province.

Another military source said that a US plan to move its affiliated militants towards Deir Ezzur city was thwarted after the Syrian Army troops advanced against militants and arrived at the border with Iraq and meantime by-passed US-backed militants in the town of Hamimeh.

The source added that the US bases in al-Tanf border-crossing, al-Zaviriyeh and al-Zakaf were no more useful for the launch of military operations after the Syrian Army troops arrived at the country's border with Iraq.

According to the source, the Syrian army would soon start a large-scale operation in Deir Ezzur, and underlined that deployment of the Syrian forces at the border with Iraq made a strong long barrier in front of the US-backed militants, stopping their advance towards Deir Ezzur.

On May 18, the US-led coalition struck pro-Bashar Assad forces near al-Tanf in the area of an established de-confliction zone. The coalition air raids occurred near al-Tanf, where US' and British special operations forces have been training militants near the border with Iraq and Jordan.

On June 6, the Pentagon announced the coalition conducted a new strike on pro-Syrian government forces as they entered the de-confliction zone with Russia and posed threat to its personnel. The force comprised of a tank, artillery, anti-aircraft weapons, armed technical vehicles and more than 60 soldiers. At least two Syrian servicemen were killed and more than 15 injured as a result of the coalition attack.

On June 8, the US-led coalition bombed pro-Damascus forces near al-Tanf in the area of a de-confliction zone following an alleged attack by a combat drone resulting in no coalition forces' casualties. This was the third attack by the coalition on Damascus' allies in the area. The coalition targeted a drone and trucks with weapons.

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