ISIL suffers heavy casualties in another daring Deir Ezzor offensive

BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:35 A.M.) – The Islamic State (ISIL) launched a new offensive in the Deir Ezzor Governorate this week, targeting the Syrian Arab Army’s positions along the western bank of the Euphrates River.

ISIL began their offensive, Saturday, by storming the Syrian Arab Army’s positions near the Heart Hospital and Furat Al-Sham Hotel; this resulted in a fierce battle that lasted for several hours.

Coming to the aid of the Syrian Army troops under attack by ISIL, the Russian Air Force would join the battle, bombing the terrorist group’s supply lines to the Hawiqah and Al-Baghiliyah districts.

With the help of the Russians, the Syrian Arab Army was able to drive back the terrorist forces, killing and wounding several militants in the process.

However, this assault near the Euphrates River would not be ISIL’s last assault of the day, as their forces followed up this attack by storming the Syrian Army’s defense at the Deir Ezzor Provincial Cemetery.

Not only did this offensive fail to yield any advance, but the Islamic State ended up losing more than 30 combatants and five armored vehicles during this daring assault in a well-fortified area.

Despite ISIL’s losses across the country, the Syrian Arab Army has chosen to remain on the defensive in the Deir Ezzor Governorate recently; this is due to the fact that the terrorist group has exponentially increased the size of their forces in the province since abandoning east Aleppo, Raqqa, and Mosul.