On Tuesday, ISIS fighters launched a large counter-attck against the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and allies tribal forces west of the ISIS-held town of Maadan in the southern Raqqah countryside.
According to reports, ISIS units overrun the government forces defense in the area and entered the villages of al-Buhamad, Athshana, Salem Hamad and Ghanim Ali where an intense fighting was reported.
According to some sources, ISIS even seized Ghanim Ali but no videos or photos were provided to confirm these allegations. If the ISIS gains are confirmed, it will indicate that the SAA will not be able to seize the important town of Maadan in the nearest future.
UPD: In turn, pro-government sources denied that the ISIS had been able to seize some ground west of Maadan. However, they were also not able to provide any photo or video confirmation from the area.
Last weekend, the Syrian military shifted its anti-ISIS efforts from the southern Raqqah countryside to the province of Homs. Elite fighters of the SAA Tiger Forces were redeployed from the Maadan area. Most likely, ISIS used this fact for own counter-attack.
Government forces are now attempting to cut off ISIS supply lines north of Sukhna in the province of Homs. If they are able to do this, the ISIS counter-attack near Maadan will not increase the ISIS chances to survive in central Syria.
