On January 25, ISIS launched a surprise assault on positions of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in eastern Syria, according to the ISIS-linked news agency Amaq.
ISIS units attacked the SAA in the villages of Al-Ramadi and Al-Salihiyah and reportedly engaged government troops near the T2 pumping station. According to Amaq, ISIS damaged an SAA battle tank near Al-Salihiyah and destroyed an SAA battle tank near Al-Ramadi.
Pro-government sources speculate that some ISIS units participating in the attack against the SAA had crossed to the western bank of the Euphrates after they withdrew from the town of Gharanij before US-backed forces captured it.
