Syrian Army Inches Closer to ISIL’s Last Stronghold in Eastern Homs
The army units and the popular forces have expanded control to areas surroundings the al-Sukhnah gas field only five kilometers South-East of the town of al-Sukhnah.
The recent advances of the army were materialized two months after imposing control over ISIL-held regions in Eastern Qalamoun and Khneifis region.
Al-Sukhnah is the most important town along the road to Deir Ezzur.
The army’s steady advances in the regions near Arak and al-Heil oil fields enable the pro-government forces to capture more key heights South and North-West of al-Sukhnah.
The army, now, needs to capture Tantour heights West of al-Sukhnah to impose control over the Southwestern entrance of the town.
The Arabic-language Lebanese Al-Akhbar daily reported that the army will move towards North and East after capturing al-Sukhnah.
The daily added that after the liberation of al-Sukhnah the army will have the two options of pushing towards the town of Kabajeb 80km away from Deir Ezzur in the East or move Northwards to join other army units that are advancing against ISIL towards the ancient region of Ba’ar al-Hamal.
Earlier reports said that the army troops launched a powerful attack in the Western outskirts of the town of al-Sukhnah this morning, targeting the ISIL terrorists’ last positions along the hilltops overlooking the town.
Backed by Russian airstrikes and popular fighters of Liwa Fatemiyoun, the Syrian Army’s 5th Corps and 18th Tank Division struck ISIL’s positions outside al-Sukhnah, resulting in a series of fierce clashes that are still ongoing.
