Syrian Army Tightens Noose on ISIL Trapped in Sweida Deserts

Rasa - The Syrian army forces continued storming ISIL's positions in the Eastern desert of Sweida on Wednesday, seizing control over more points in Toloul al-Safa.

News ID: 439531

Date: 14 September 2018 - 13:42

RNA - The Syrian army forces continued storming ISIL's positions in the Eastern desert of Sweida on Wednesday, seizing control over more points in Toloul al-Safa.

Sweida

The army men stormed ISIL's strongholds in the depth of Eastern desert of Sweida, imposing control over more points in the rocks in Toloul al-Safa region.

In the meantime, the army's artillery and missile units and aircraft pounded ISIL's movements and positions in Toloul al-Safa, inflicting major losses on the terrorists.

A field source pointed to the tightening of the army's siege on the ISIL in Toloul al-Safa, adding that the army units have now imposed control over a large rocky region with a number caves and hideouts of the ISIL terrorists.

The source further said that other units of the army repelled ISIL's heavy attack Northeast of Toloul al-Safa to lift government forces' siege on the terrorists.

ISIL suffered heavy casualties in the failed attacks and pulled the remaining pockets of fighters from the battlefield.

Idlib

Syrian sources revealed Turkey's demand from Damascus, via Russian channels, again to further delay the army's military operations in Idlib.

The Arabic-language website of Sputnik quoted informed Syrian sources as saying on Wednesday that Ankara has asked the Syrian army's command center, with Moscow's mediation, to provide the country with more time to separate those who it calls as "moderate dissidents" from Tahrir al-Sham (the Levant Liberation Board or the Al-Nusra Front) and the ISIL terrorists.

Based on the report, the Turkish side has admitted dispatch of military equipment to several regions of Idlib province in the past few days, saying that if Tahrir al-Sham rejects leaving the regions occupied by the "moderate dissidents", it will use military power against them. Turkey has not mentioned where the terrorists could retreat to after leaving Idlib.

The sources said that if Syria and Russia agree with Turkey's demand, it will be the last deadline given to Ankara to act upon its undertakings based on the Astana conference.

Earlier reports said that Damascus has extended its deadline for two days upon Turkey's demand to delay military operations in Idlib province.

Also on Wednesday, the terrorists stationed in Idlib warned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that they will attack and occupy the country's lands if Ankara gives up support for them.

The Arabic-language al-Mayadeen news channel reported on Wednesday that a notorious terrorist commander in Northern Idlib, bordering Turkey, has warned Erdogan that they will gain control of the town of Reihaniyeh in Turkey within 2 hours if he "sells Idlib" and desists from supporting them.

The terrorists who had been transferred from Eastern Ghouta of Damascus to Idlib are now warning that the militants will pass the cement walls built at the borders and enter Reihaniyeh region by digging tunnels.

Hama

The pro-militant White Helmets Organization, directed by its foreign supporters, are planning to transfer poisonous materials to new locations in Hama province as terrorist groups are trying to stage a false-flag chemical attack, an Arab media outlet reported on Wednesday.

The Arabic-language al-Mayadeen TV channel quoted a well-informed source in Jisr al-Shughour as disclosing that the White Helmets are planning to transfer a large volume of poisonous materials to Qala al-Maziq and Kafr Naboudeh in Northern Hama as requested by their foreign backers.

It went on to say that the terrorists and the White Helmets are planning to make a ten-minute video of a fake chemical attack to send two copeis of the video to the United Nations, adding that a meeting which was to be held over the release of the video of the fake chemical attack has been postponed.

Also on Wednesday, the Syrian army's artillery and missile units opened heavy fire at the positions of Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at in Northern Hama, destroying terrorists' bases and positions used as missile launchpads.

The artillery and missile units targeted a base of Tahrir al-Sham near Qala al-Maziq in Northern Hama, inflicting major casualties on the terrorists.

Other artillery units further pounded terrorists' strongholds in the town of al-Latamina, damaging several positions used as missile launchpads to target regions that are under government forces' control.

Deir Ezzur

The Syrian Army units continued storming ISIL in different flanks on Wednesday, driving the terrorists out of more areas in the Eastern desert of Deir Ezzur.

The army soldiers engaged in fierce clashes with ISIL in several flanks in a large region from the Eastern deserts of Deir Ezzur to Homs province, taking control over vast areas of land.

In the meantime, the country's Air Force carried out several rounds of combat flights over ISIL's movements in al-Sukhnah deserts, near Aweiraz Dam, in T2 Oil Pumping Station in Southwestern Deir Ezzur and at Deir Ezzur border with Homs province in the Eastern Deserts, destroying a number of bases and positions and killing a number of terrorists.

Other units of the army discovered a large depot of arms and ammunition in one of the hideouts of the ISIL in al-Sukhnah desert.

Hasaka

The US Forces have started setting up two more military bases in Qamishli region in Hasaka province amid tensions between civilians and the Kurds, an Arab media outlet reported on Wednesday.

According to Fars News Agancy, the Arabic-language al-Manar news website reported that the US-led coalition has resumed building two more military bases in the village of Jam'aya East of the town of Qamishli as well as areas West of the town.

It further said that the US military has set up a base at the Eastern entrance of the town Qamishli and also established a permanent base in the small town of Himo at the Western entrance of the town.

The website reminded that a sum of 13 Syrian soldiers were killed in an ambush operation by the Kurdish militias in Qamishli recently.

Raqqa

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) suffered casualties on Wednesday after two bombs went off at their bases in Raqqa province.

A bomb went off at SDF's base in al-Nour street in the Northwestern part of Raqqa city, injuring a number of SDF members.

In the meantime, fierce clashes were also reported between the SDF and the attackers after the bomb explosion.

Also, a bomb went off near Ibn Khaldoun school in Raqqa city, killing two SDF militias.

The SDF has arrested over fifty young men in the villages and towns in Northern Raqqa under a forced recruiting plan.

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