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On June 27, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) General Command announced in an official statement that units of the SAA backed by the Syrian Arab Air Force (SAA) had cleared the Deir Ezzor desert – over 5,200km2 – from ISIS. The desert is located between the western and southwestern countryside of Deir Ezzor.
“The complete desecration of Deir Ezzor and reaching to the Iraqi border confirms the high efficiency of the Syrian Arab fighter and the insistence of the General Command of the army to pursue the remnants of terrorist organizations, of different names, until the cleansing of the entire Syrian soil of the abomination of terrorism and its regional and international supporters,” the SAA General Command said in the official statement, according to SANA.
The SAA launched its military operation in Deir Ezzor desert on June 20 and advanced in the southern and southwestern Deir Ezzor countryside securing 1,200km2. Later on June 25, the SAA secured 1,800km2 between western al-Bukamal and “point 400” on the Syrian-Iraqi border.
The remaining fighters of ISIS likely withdrew towards their last positions in the Homs desert. According to Syrian pro-government sources, more than 1,000 fighters and senior commanders of the terrorist group are currently hiding there.
The SAA, Iranian-backed forces and the Russian Aerospace Forces will likely launch a larger military operation in the upcoming months to eliminate ISIS troops in the Homs desert.
