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Voiceover by Harold Hoover
On August 23, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies closed the second pocket in the province of Homs liberating the Dahik mount, the al-Minshare mount and the villages of Harif, al-Asfuriah, Rud al-Wahesh, and Qatqat.
A high number of ISIS fighters were killed and two battle tanks were destroyed during the SAA advance. Government troops also captured two battle tanks and a BMP-1 vehicle.
The SAA also liberated Salba town north of the ISIS strong point of Uqayribat in the eastern Hama countryside.
The Russian Aerospace Forces conducted up to 50 airstrikes in support of the anti-ISIS operation north of the Homs-Palmyra highway.
On August 24, government forces continued developing momentum against ISIS in the area. According to pro-government experts, the SAA will soon clear the entire province from ISIS terrorists.
ISIS terrorists conducted an attack against government forces in the al-Waer area near the Iraqi border.
According to the ISIS-linked news agency Amaq, ISIS killed about 20 members of the SAA and Hezbollah and destroyed 6 military vehicles and 2 artillery pieces. However, ISIS was not able to seize the area.
ISIS has lost important positions at the Syrian-Lebanese border.
The SAA and Hezbollah captured 70% of the Mira crossing area and reached the Sin Fikhah crossing in western Qalamoun. Qarnaht Sha’abat al-Bahsah and Harfush have been also secured.
This week, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) captured al-Rasheed neighborhood in Raqqah. Clashes were reported in the southern part of the city and in Old Raqqah but the SDF has not achieved notable gains there.
The SDF, supported by the US-led coalition, started the official storm of the ISIS-held city in early June.
Pro-Kurdish sources speculated that the SDF would need only 2-3 months to take control of Raqqah entirely. However, it seems that much more time will be needed. ISIS still has a strong presence in the populated areas and puts up a strong resistance to the US-backed force.
Dozens of Syrian Soldiers Killed due to Unexpected ISIS Assault in Raqqah
August 24th, 2017 – Fort Russ News – – Agencies
While conducting its operations in Raqqah province, ISIS terrorists launched an assault and overran some villages in southern Raqqah, resulting in scores of the Syrian soldiers being killed after getting caught off-guard.
According to Amaq News Agency of ISIS, at least 99 Syrian soldiers were killed, 57 of them in a single suicide bombing.
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/08/dozens-of-syrian-soldiers-killed-due-to.html
And a lone mortar killed some people at the opening of Damascus Trade Fair. These are the desperate dying throes of a Zio-Capitalist funded Wahabi fanaticism in a steadfastly secular and socialist Syria. Meanwhile, President Dr. Bashar and First Lady Asma Assad are cordially welcomed by the unflustered workers at a Syrian winery, and Russian beer goes on sale in Syria.
Noah would have been delighted with his tolerant Syrian progeny, he himself is said to have “brewed by Arc light”. So would Father Abraham, who told the leader of a rival tribe in the Holy Land: “You take the West Bank and I shall take the East Bank. But if you want the East Bank then I shall take the West Bank. The earth is the Lord’s, and there is room for all”.
SDF Prepares To Launch Advance On Deir Ezzor – Reports
The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are preparing to launch a military operation against ISIS in the province of Deir Ezzor, according to media speculations and reports by pro-SDF activists.
The SDF could launch the military operation “within several weeks” aimd the ongoing fighting for the city of Raqqah, Reuters reported citing, Ahmed Abu Khawla, head of the Deir Ezzor military council. [a part of the SDF]
https://southfront.org/sdf-prepares-to-launch-advance-on-deir-ezzor-reports/
With waste areas controlled by the WEST, through the Kurds, and Deir Ezzor in their reach, the Partition of Syria remain a Possibility :)
Some 9,000 Militants Attempting to Capture Syria’s Idlib Province – Russian MoD
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201708251056778400-militants-attempting-capture-idlib-province/
“The total number of al-Nusra Front militants in northwestern Idlib stands at 9,000 people. Currently, terrorists are trying to take control over the whole of its territory by intensifying combat actions against the moderate opposition groups,” Korobov said at the Army-2017 forum.
Korobov noted that currently Nusra Front is the second most powerful terrorist group in Syria. It includes more than 15,000 militants, most of whom are Syrians.
It was earlier reported that Nusra Front forces were actively regrouping in northern Syria, trying to take over control of main border crossings with Turkey.
Speaking of the militant group last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that some members of the US-led coalition against Daesh are interested in preserving the Nusra Front group for later use in the fight against Damascus.”
Deir ez-Zor: Syrian Army Takes Aim at Daesh’s Last Stronghold in Country
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201708251056785808-russia-syria-deir-ezzor/
“The Deir ez-Zor area remains the last stronghold of Daesh armed units in Syria, with militants accumulating their forces there, Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy, the chief of the Russian General Staff’s Main Operational Directorate, said during a round table discussion at the ARMY-2017 forum.
“The lifting of siege of this city will allow us to completely defeat the most combat-effective formations of the Daesh terror group in Syria,” Rudskoy said.
Rudskoy added that the terrorists from the city of Raqqa and Iraq’s Mosul have been transferred to Deir ez-Zor.
The Syrian army and self-defense units supported by the Russian Aerospace Forces have significantly advanced toward Deir ez-Zor from three directions, the military official pointed out. Also, a major group of Daesh terrorists has been surrounded in the town of Uqayribat. The town of As Sukhnah, located to the east of Palmyra, has been also liberated from Daesh militants due to Russian airstrikes and an offensive by Syrian forces, Rudskoy added.”