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The defeat of ISIS in southwestern Syria allows the Syrian military to start re-deploying some units from the province of Quneitra to the eastern part of al-Suwayda in order to crush ISIS cells operating in the area.
The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies established full control of the entire area of southwestern Syria on July 31. Thus, it gained an opportunity to redeploy a few thousands troops from the area to other frontlines. Two main priorities are eastern al-Suwayda and northern Latakia. In Latakia clashes already started early on August 1. However, this does not mean theat a military operation there has been launched.
According to pro-government sources, the operation in northern Latakia will not be launched until the SAA is able to deliver a notable blow to ISIS cells in eastern al-Suwayda. The July 25 ISIS attack on government positions in the province of al-Suwayda, which resulted in the killing of over 200 civilians, drew the Damascus government attention to the problem of ISIS cells there. The government would risk to lost support of the local population if it ingores this problem.
