If you’re able, and if you like our content and approach, please support the project. Our work wouldn’t be possible without your help: PayPal: southfront@list.ru, BTC: 1PvKhgVDoXp96Yyp7Pgs5uMPkChSMA2G5n or via: http://southfront.org/donate/ or via: https://www.patreon.com/southfront
Voiceover by Harold Hoover
Syrian government forces have liberated at least 55 towns from ISIS and killed some 2,000 terrorists in the province of Aleppo since June 1st and now the Syrian military and its allies continue advancing against ISIS along the Euphrates River, Chief of the Russian General Staff’s Main Operational Directorate Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy announced on Monday.
Rudskoy added that the Syrian army and its allies have freed 150km of the border with Iraq including the city of El-Bud and the T-2 gas distribution system from ISIS and now they are developing the offensive in the direction of the city of al-Bukamal. Government forces are allegedly deployed within 26km of this strategic ISIS-held city.
He added that an operation aimed at blocking and destroying a large group of ISIS terrorists at Uqayribat is now ongoing northwest of Palmyra.
Meanwhile, the Russian Aerospace Forces conducted at least 2,000 sorties and carried out 5,850 airstrikes on terrorist targets. Russia used Kalibr cruise missiles and Tu-95MC strategic bombers to destroy the most important ISIS targets.
The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have made some gains in the districts of al-Muazzafin, al-Hamra, and Nazlat Shehada and killed 14 ISIS members in the city of Raqqah. However, clashes are still ongoing in these areas.
Considering the progress of the SDF advance, the US-led force is not going to liberate the city in the nearest future. The Syrian military command used the SDF problems in Raqqah in order to launch a large-scale campaign against ISIS terrorists south of the Euphrates River. This may lead to a situation where US-led forces will lose the race to the oil-rich province of Deir Ezzor even before the formal start of the campaign which is expected after the liberation of Raqqah.
Earlier this summer, many pro-US sources speculated that the SDF would capture Raqqah and the oil-rich Deir Ezzor countryside before the army and its allies reached the city.
One hundred forty-three Hayat Tahrir al-Sham members have been killed since the start of the Hezbollah-led advance in the Jaroud Arsal area at the Syrian-Lebanese border. Hezbollah, backed up by the Syrian Army and the Lebanese Army, has retaken almost the entire area controlled by the group and allegedly lost only 19 fighters during the effort. The ISIS-held part of Jaroud Arsal will become the next target of the Hezbollah-led operation.
I wonder when we will see Israel bomb Hezbollah again. Since Hezbollah is leading the fight along the Lebanese-Syrian border against the jihadis. Its very likely there will be an Israeli air attack on them soon.The Israelis should (rightly) be very worried at seeking the “blood and guts” military experience Hezbollah is gaining fighting against well armed jihadis during the years of Syrian fighting.And know that any “edge” they might “think” they have in fighting Hezbollah is “quickly” being shown to be wrong.
The zionist baby killers are a spent force – they were never anything but an army of vassals. Syria is the end of the zionist cancer – the west is finished on the road to the Damascus. Could the present by more inline with the script of Lawrence of Arabia?
The only secular regime in Near East dictatorial albeit yet the only force in tackling ISIS( financed by Saudi and city/states of the Persian Gulf also Turkish regime and early on us administration) regime change in Syria is the most irrational alternative for otherwise various fanatic Islamic entities are going to creat havoc in the region as we have witnessed thus far
Lots of updates:
Reconciliation Process in Raqqa, Hasaka and Deir Ezzor.
“… The Syrian Government has set a strategy to gather as many tribal leaders as possible from areas in Raqqa, Hasaka and Der ez Zor Provinces, to lead a reunification process in those Provinces, it is easy said but maybe hard to implement, with the war of aggression against the Syrians, many terrorists from one area fought aways from home, meaning there will be a lot of resistance from the terrorists groups spread all over the country, but them, there will be always the reconciliation efforts with able Government officials that break and bend a lot of resistance in the western part of the countries. This is a recipe for success, hopefully.”
The SDF Is No Force South of the Euphrates.
“… the way I see is that a lot of SDF advances are “inflated”, this has been proved on and on during many campaigns, SDF forces south of the Euphrates are a tiny component of the SDF forces north of it, they in fact have little fire power and resources south of the Euphrates.
Not a surprise to hear that the SDF has a deal with the SAA and Russia for the villages, they say they are handing over, but in fact the tribal forces allied to the SAA are liberating them without being concerned of any attack from the SDF, that is the main deal actually.
In time, all of southern Raqqa will be under the SAA, the dire situation of places such as Tabqa city is an example of lack of “after ISIS liberation” by the SDF symptoms, the city is in terrible conditions, with ISIS corpses still not buried causing alarm for diseases, zero to little basic infra structure back in place and of course the delay for the refugees to return.
This is HUGE difference when the SAA liberates areas, the Syrian Government sends admin staff to restore the basic utilities as soon as possible. Sometimes it takes a while, weeks, but usually done very quickly. The eastern Aleppo area is now returning to the pre war of of aggression against the Syrians level, plantations, power generation, water supply….thousands of people returning home and re starting their normal lives, and this just 1-2-3 months after liberation depending on where it was located.”
The Importance of the Tribal Forces.
“… Several villages by the Euphrates, confirmed, under the SAA and alies:
Itihad University
Kasrat Mohamed Ali
Ratlah
Kasrat Sarur
Al Ajil
Ukairshy
Dahlah
Huwayjat
Shinan ar-Rahbi
Muqla
Zawr Shammar
Al-Sabkhah
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.867908&lon=39.105835&z=10&m=b&gz=0;389987182;357793854;233459;1291323;0;896357;2980041;0;3117370;451088
As previously mentioned in several posts, the Tiger Forces are advancing straight to Der er Zor through the desert while the Raqqa tribal force is negotiating the liberation each village by the Euphrates, some of the deals were with SDF, other with villagers previously held by ISIS. This selected MO is preserving the villages and minimizing the loss of civilians, this strategy will pay huge dividends later one with the local arab tribes supporting the Syrian Government.
On a side note, the same strategy was decided few months ago for Hasaka and Der ez Zor Provinces, where tribal leaders where selected to do the negotiations.
The above confirms that has passed Ghanim al Ali cross road and it is indeed closer to Der ez Zor, somewhere south of Maadan, a large and influential city by the Euphrates and a ISIS stronghold.”
Tiger’s Tactics Leaves ISIS Overstretched.
“… That would be always in the Tiger’s mind, protect the flanks. In the case of this campaign toward the Euphrates-Der ez Zor, it seems the Tiger counts with the river as a flank protection, so while the main battle force cut the desert open in a coned shape format, the river will protect the northern flank while the southern flank is exposed.
But them the Tiger has a second axis and a third axis south of the main battle formation, down south of Jabal al Fusayyat from the desert triangle toward al Shulah and further south on the al Kawm-al Taybah toward al Sukhanah.
It seems these 3 layer-axis working in coordination got ISIS with its “pants down” and over stretched.
I believe that one of the success of this campaign has been the ability to deal with the time consuming village liberation effort to a secondary unit, Raqqa’s tribal force, that is doing the heavy lifting of negotiating and clearing villages.
The speed of the advance plus the strategy used is letting ISIS confused and sometimes they abandon the villages fearing being encircled, and sometimes they put a small fight to delay the advance by the river, the battle for the city of Ma’adan will be an important thermometer for this strategy, this is considered a large urban center, about half of Raqqa city size and a ISIS stronghold before Der ez Zor.
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.750065&lon=39.607430&z=14&m=b
Should the Tiger continue its spearhead advance, this town will be encircled and most likely required a lot of effort to be liberated, unless the locals revolt and help the tribal forces to arrest or kill the remaining ISIS terrorists inside.
The good news for the battle of the Euphrates’ villages is that urban tunnels are mostly useless, if it goes too deep it gets water inside and collapses. Should the locals do not revolt, or ISIS stands strong, then air power will do the thing.”
Great Article by Robert Fisk.
“… The following article from Robert Fisk, may corroborate with the above news. If in fact Robert went deep into the Syrian desert and met these folks near Resafa, southern Raqqa Province, then hats off for him.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/syria-isis-russia-kurdish-ypg-happening-in-secret-a7857471.html
Qalib al Thawr.
“… Very important battle being fought at Qalib al Thawr, northeastern Hama. This is one of the toughest ISIS defensive spot in all NE Hama, it has a high ground position that once ISIS is defeated there, it will open up fire control of a large area toward the main ISIS stronghold of Uqayribat. The possibility of high casualties is real, ISIS knows losing this site will be as if a limb is cut from its body in NE Hama, they will defend with all they can.
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.092805&lon=37.304420&z=13&m=b
The battle for NE Hama is growing into a very bloody one, ISIS is aware it will be cut off from the Euphrates, so they will die fighting inside the large pocket.”
more to share:
Nusra Lost 90% of Territory in 4 Days in Qalamoun.
“… Al Qaeda and all its affiliates in the Qalamoun never saw that coming, in just 4 days they were wiped out from the map, hundreds dead and many more surrendered. This defeat will impact al Qaeda all over Syria, morally.
In few days, stage II about to start, against ISIS in Qalamoun, though they hold more terrain, they have less ratpower and much less equipped. Expect SAAF to be very very active on top of ISIS, as well as the use of artillery by LA, Hizballah and SAA.
ISIS has very little possibility to use VBIEDs in the Qalamoun, by will most likely use RatBIEDs.”
Excellent Video Report by OZ Analysis.
“… Excellent OZ analysis of the current large front line toward Der ez Zor. Worth watching, just 3 minutes.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSE_hYM2-is
What About T2?
“… The area is a battle ground, back and forth on both sides. It is not a safe area nor fully liberated, lets put this way. “
What about the PMU?
“… One important thing to consider though is that this battle is linked to the Iraq border, and there was no new attempt by the PMU to control most of the border nor follow the SAA and allies advances, so ISIS is constantly using the Iraq border to attack exposed flanks of the SAA.
There is no way the SAA and allies are prepared to storm al Bukamal, if they try they will fail, not enough forces available in the area and it is a major stronghold for ISIS.
Unprecedented SAA Troops Build Up.
“… There are, literally, many thousands of soldiers and fighters moving from the western side of Syria (from Lattakia to Daraa), from Qamishli, from Hasaka, from Aleppo etc. to the desert area, this build up is unprecedented and could be done due to the de escalation, these troops will be allocated to :
Storm al Sukhanah
the advance will happen in few days and will be swift, there won’t be a chance for ISIS to hold the town.
Liberate Der ez Zor
a final push will happen from some 3-4 axis toward Der ez Zor, it could happen as early as late next week.
Consolidate Humaymah-T2
forces will consolidate gains in the T3-T2 road and advance to control main crossroads in the desert as well as water dams/reservoirs. Only by building a larger perimeter defensive lines T2 will be considered safe and fully liberated.”
Good interview with PCR, he insisted that the war would have been over if it wasn’t for Russian hesitations:
http://kingworldnews.com/dr-paul-craig-roberts-7-1-17/
PCR is fake alternative, a shill and a blunt liar.
if PCR was true alternative, don’t you think the Empire would silence & ‘suicide’ him?!
if Russia hadn’t calmed things down:
-Syria & friends would be facing a broader regional war,
-Erdogan wouldn’t have turned east/Russia/SCO,
-Qatar wouldn’t have turned east/Russia/Iran and Qatar would have still be arming&financing their bunch of terrorists in Syria
-Nato is falling apart – Nato wins Montenegro but looses Turkey
-Germany is in defiance of the Empire
etc.
so relax, things are resolving themselves as best as they can
Yes, Nato won Montenegro.
Nato has owned the Montenegrin government for some time now.
But I doubt that they’ve actually won most Montenegrins – apart from Albanians, Croats, and a minority of so called Montenegrin “nationalists”.