ISIS loses 100+ fighters in failed Deir Ezzor offensive
The Deir Ezzor Governorate has had its share of bloody battles in the past; however, the battle on Sunday might arguably boast the highest death toll, as over 100 fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) were reportedly killed during their largest offensive inside the provincial capital this year.
ISIS conducted a simultaneous assault on both the northern and southern sectors of Deir Ezzor City on Sunday, launching nearly 10 VBIEDs (vehicle borne improvised explosive device) at the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) defenses in the Al-Harabash and Al-Haweeqa districts – all VBIEDs failed to reach their targets.
The ISIS assault on the Harabash School District facility was the first to be repelled by the Syrian Armed Forces after a two hour long battle that ended with the terrorist group retreating to nearby Sakr Island (Haweeja Sakr).
According to a military source from the Syrian Arab Army’s 104th Airborne Brigade of the Republican Guard, the Syrian Armed Forces killed just over 30 enemy combatants during ISIS’ failed offensive to capture this district on the western bank of the Euphrates River.
Unfortunately, the situation in the Al-Haweeqa District was far more concerning for the Syrian Armed Forces, as ISIS briefly captured most of the Firat Al-Sham Hotel area before destroying the building during their retreat.
However, this assault in northern Deir Ezzor proved far more fatal for ISIS; in fact, pictures from the battle’s aftermath displayed a gruesome scene of dead terrorists scattered all over the Firat Al-Sham area.
Sources from the Syrian Arab Army’s 104th Brigade estimated that between 70-80 ISIS terrorists were killed during this battle, making this one of the most costly defeats for the terrorist group.
from
via Defense