Syria in Last 24 Hours: Army Advances in Deserts of Sweida, Sends New Military Equipment

TEHRAN (defapress)- The Damascus Army sent fresh military convoys to the Eastern Badiyeh (desert) of Sweida over the past 24 hours, intensifying cleansing operations against the ISIL in the terrorists' last stronghold.

News ID: 73023

Date: 12 October 2018 - 15:50

"The army has sent tens of its forces and new military equipment to Toloul al-Safa region in Eastern Badiyeh of Sweida to be prepared for a massive battle against the ISIL," field sources said.

"The Syrian army units, supported by artillery and missile fire, engaged in clashes with the ISIL in several fronts in Toloul al-Safa rugged terrain, purging the militants of new areas," they added.

Meantime, the Syrian army continued its military advances in other parts of Syria over the past 24 hours.

Tens of terrorists were killed and dozens more were injured during the Syrian army's operations in provinces across Syria.

Sweida

The Syrian army dispatched new military convoys to the Eastern Badiyeh of Sweida, intensifying cleansing operations against the ISIL in the terrorists' last stronghold.

Field sources reported on Thursday that the army has sent tens of its forces and new military equipment to Toloul al-Safa region in Eastern Badiyeh of Sweida to be prepared for a massive battle against the ISIL.

They added that the Syrian army units, supported by artillery and missile fire, engaged in clashes with the ISIL in several fronts in Toloul al-Safa rugged terrain, purging the militants of new areas.

They also clashed with the ISIL terrorists who had attacked the army positions in Qa'a al-Banat region, foiling their attempts to occupy the region and killing a number of them.

Meantime, reports said that at least 20 ISIL terrorists have been killed in clashes with the Syrian army in the past 24 hours.

The Syrian army forces resumed their field operations against the ISIL in Toloul al-Safa region in Eastern desert of Sweida on Wednesday, deploying near the highest hill in the rugged terrain.

Backed by the Russian Air Force's heavy raids, the Syrian Army units began their operations this morning by storming Toloul al-Safa hills from several flanks.

Following a series of intense clashes, the Syrian army managed to score a new advance at the Northwestern and Southwestern flanks of Toloul al-Safa region.

According to a military source in Sweida city, the Syrian army has reached the largest hilltop in Toloul al-Safa region after this morning’s clashes with the ISIL terrorists.

The Syrian army is now moving many of its soldiers to this front in preparation to storm this important hilltop that overlooks the entire region.

If the army is successful in capturing this hilltop, they will effectively have fire control over the entire Toloul al-Safa region.

Hama

The terrorists continue attacks against the Syrian army positions in Northern Hama in violation of the Sochi agreement between Russia and Turkey that rules for setting up a demilitarized zone in Northern Syria.

The Arabic-language website of the Russian state-run news agency, Sputnik, reported on Wednesday that snipers of Horas al-Din terrorist group launched heavy attacks on the army points near the town of Ma'an in Northern Hama.

It added that Jeish al-Izza terrorists stationed near the town of al-Latamineh also used 23-mm artillery to attack the army positions in Zalaqiyat.

Horas al-Din and Jeish al-Izza has several times in the past few days underlined opposition to the Sochi agreement.

Syria's Arabic-language al-Watan newspaper also reported that the Syrian army pounded the terrorists' moves and strongholds near the towns of Murak and al-Latamineh, leaving heavy damages and tolls among the militants.

Aleppo

A new US military convoy was dispatched from Raqqa to Manbij in Northern Syria as tensions between the Kurdish militia and the Turkish army continue in the region.

The Arabic-language al-Manar news channel reported on Thursday that the US military convoy consists of several military vehicles and tanks, adding that it moved from the town of Ain Isa in Northern Raqqa to Manbij in Northeastern Aleppo.

Meantime, the Kurdish sources said that Manbij military council has been supplied with several armored vehicles by the American forces as the Turkish army's threats have increased, and as the US and Turkish militaries are slated to start joint patrols near Manbij following a relevant agreement between Washington and Ankara few months ago.

Also, Turkey's Anadolu news agency reported that the US forces continue dispatching convoys of weapons and military equipment to Northeastern Syria, adding that they have recently delivered 3 bulldozers and drilling machinery to the Kurds in Manbij.

It added that the Kurds use the drilling equipment to ditch tunnels near Manbij.

Sources affiliated to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) disclosed on Wednesday that tensions were likely to intensify between the Turkish army and Kurdish militias in Northeastern Syria as the SDF was reinvigorating positions and the US provides more logistic back-up for the Kurds.

The sources claimed that the US Army handed over 7 heavy construction machinery to the Manbij Military Council in Northeastern Aleppo to use them for fortifying positions.

In the meantime, commander of the Council underlined that his forces have taken all the necessary security measures to protect all entrances and roads to Manbij against any threat by the Turkish army.

"Our forces are entitled to make any move and do whatever they can to restore security in Manbij," he further said.

Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has recently underlined that the Turkish forces are monitoring the Kurdish militias' digging tunnels around Manbij.

Deir Ezzur

Several civilians were killed and wounded in the US-led coalition airstrikes on Eastern Deir Ezzur in Syria on Thursday.

Local sources in Eastern Deir Ezzur reported on Thursday that the US-led coalition fighter jets targeted the town of al-Sha'afah, killing at least 4 civilians, including a child, and injuring a number of others.

They added that some of the wounded are in critical conditions, raising the possibility for increased toll.

In a similar case last Wednesday, several civilians, including women and children, were killed in the US-led coalition's airstrikes on a region in Southeastern Deir Ezzur.

Local sources in Southeastern Deir Ezzur reported  that the US-led coalition fighter jets targeted the town of al-Souseh, killing at least 4 members of a family.

They added that the US warplanes attacked a house in al-Souseh, leading to the death of the members of a family, including a woman and a child, and injuring a number of others.

Idlib

Tensions have increased among the terrorist groups in Idlib and Aleppo, reports said, adding that a senior Egyptian commander of Tahrir al-Sham (the Levant Liberation Board or the Al-Nusra Front) has been killed during infighting in Idlib.

Sources affiliated to the terrorists reported on Thursday that one of the military commanders of Tahrir al-Sham namely Abu Laith al-Misri has been killed by unknown assailants in the town of Kafr Nobl in Southern Idlib.

Also reports from Northern Idlib said that one of Jeish al-Ahrar terrorist group's commanders, Abu Yazan, was also killed after a bomb was detonated in his car.

Meantime, local sources in Southern Idlib reported that a number of militants were killed in clashes between Tahrir al-Sham and Jeish al-Tahrir in Jarjanaz region in the Eastern parts of Ma'arat al-Na'aman.

Media activists also reported that tensions and clashes among the terrorist groups have increased in the past two days, adding that tens of civilians, including children, have been killed and wounded during this and similar cases of infighting.

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