Syrian Forces Closing in on IS; SDF Races Towards Deir ez-Zor

The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) launched a key offensive in Deir ez-Zor province and is close to a decisive victory, a week after the government forces arrived in the city.

The government forces backed by Russian air support breached the Islamic State (IS) siege and took over several oil fields. They also established a route to the city airport as they made further advances to push back the IS.

Continuing its operations, the Syrian troops have now recaptured 85 per cent of the territory from IS militants. According to Lt. Gen. Alexander Lapin, the forces have yet to recapture the remaining 15 per cent - about 27,000 sq km – from IS control.

The IS had laid siege to Deir ez-Zor city and gained control over most parts of Deir ez-Zor province in the east of war-torn Syria in the year 2014. Since then, the province – rich in oil and natural gas – was a key IS a stronghold.

Before beginning its final offensive against the militant outfit, the SAA Tiger Forces and the Syrian Republican Guard (SRG) captured areas near Maliha village, the Tayyem oil field and reached the Jabal Tharda in the south of the city last week. As government forces recaptured Jabal Thardah, they have established control over half of the Deir ez-Zor city.

The government forces and its allies which control the key Palmyra-Deir ez-Zor highway have also said the Deir ez-Zor airport will be fully operational soon after it is completely secured. They have been successful earlier in their attempts to establish both land and aerial passage to the last IS-held territory.

The IS also faced another offensive from the northern side in areas it has been holding around Deir ez-Zor, as US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) began their own advance following the SAA operation in the area. The Kurdish-led group fighting IS claimed that they have captured Deir ez-Zor’s industrial zone and made a significant advance in the countryside. The Amaq news agency of the IS, however, claimed that they had launched a counterattack against the SDF at various points to thwart their advance in major oil-rich areas.

With its fresh operations, the SDF is now only 10 km from Deir ez-Zor city, and their military advances are eyeing the Deir ez-Zor-Baghdad highway to control the vital supply line between Iraq and Syria.

Before the final assault on the IS to seize the remaining areas in Deir ez-Zor, the Syrian government forces have to be swift in their advance to prevent further SDF advances in the region.