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Last night, special units of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) embedded with Russian military advisers crossed the Euphrates River east of Deir Ezzor city and gained a foothold on its eastern bank, the Russian pro-government media outlet Riafan reported on September 18 citing own correspondents on the ground.
According to the report, the operation came under cover of the Russian Aerospace Forces that conducted a series of airstrikes on ISIS positions on the eastern bank of the Euphrates.
Then, pro-government forces engaged ISIS units in a firefight and forced the terrorists to retreat in the northern direction.
Riafan correspondents added that now the SAA is fortifying its positions on the eastern bank and is working to expand its foothold in the northern direction.
Last Friday, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced that government forces had crossed the Euphrates and gained a foothold on the eastern bank but no video confirmation has been provided. Riafan has not provided videos or photos also.
UPDATE [18.09.2917; 10:21 CEST]: A media wing of the SAA 5th Assault Corps’ ISIS Hunters also claimed that the river has been crossed:
Finally there! #ISIS_Hunters are first to traverse and intrench on the left side of #Euphrates #ISIS #Syria #DeirEzzor #ديرالزور #سوريا pic.twitter.com/aKETvpqgS0
— ISIS Hunters (@ISIS_Hunters) 18 September 2017
