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Last weekend, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) continued its advance around the ancient city of Palmyra capturing the Abu Duhur mountain. Thanks to this advance the Abu Qulah dam and Wadi Al-Hissu – 12km northwest of the “4th station” are under a full fire control by government forces. The SAA also reached the gates of the gas fields area that includes Al-Shaer and Al-Maher fields.
In Deir Ezzor, the Syrian Republican Guard carried out a limited operation against ISIS gatherings around the Al-Snuf hill and the Al Sham fuel station south of the city. As a result the SAA destroyed an ISIS check point and a technical vehicle belonging to the group. A dozen of ISIS fighters was allegedly killed.
Russian Air Force jets continued stirking ISIS positions around Deir Ezzor and its airport. However, no confirmed reports about ISIS casualties as result of Russian airstrikes are available.
The Syrian and Iraq air forces targeted ISIS bases and factories at the town of Al Bu-Kamal and across the Syrian-Iraqi border.
According to sources from Deir Ezzor, ISIS ceased its attacks on the Deir Ezzor airport 4 days ago after moving many of its fighters to Raqqah and Tapqah in order to stop the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces advance in that area. Sources say that a majority of ISIS fighters remained in Deir Ezzor are young and inexperienced or ex-convicts.
