On February 14, ISIS fighters attacked several positions of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies around the strategic city of al-Bukamal in the province of Deir Ezzor, according to Syrian opposition sources.
The ISIS-linked news agency Amaq reported that ISIS fighters had managed to capture and burn two positions and a vehicle of the SAA around al-Bukamal. They also targeted two positions of the SAA in al-Bukamal’s outskirts with SPG-9 recoilless rifle, according to the source.
According to reports, this was the biggest attack of ISIS on al-Bukamal since the SAA secured the western bank of the Euphrates River on December 17, 2017.
It indicates that ISIS is still holding several remote positions around al-Bukamal. This could force the SAA to launch a large security operation against the besieged ISIS fighters in the Homs desert. The SAA and its allies already deployed large forces in their positions east of the pocket during the last few days, according to Syrian pro-government sources.
Photos of the ISIS attack around al-Bukamal: