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The SAA advanced deep inside the heavily fortified area of al-Safa, north of the governorate of al-Suwayda, and captured several new positions in the framework of its military operation against ISIS in the Damascus desert, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported on September 21.
According to the state-run agency, warplanes of the Syrian Arab Air Force (SyAAF) and the SAA artillery supported the operation against ISIS and struck several positions and fortifications of the terrorist group in the heart of al-Safa. As a result, many terrorists were killed and injured.
A day earlier, ISIS claimed in an infographic, released by its newspaper al-Nab’a, that its fighters killed more than 500 soldiers and officers of the SAA while repelling “dozens” of attacks on their positions in the Damascus desert, mainly in al-Safa.
Local observers said that the SAA’s operation against ISIS in the Damascus desert is facing great difficulties. Some of these difficulties are the rough terrain in the volcanic region and the inability to use heavy fire power in order to ensure the safety of around 30 civilian hostages, who were abducted by the terrorist group more than a month ago.
