News / Syria

Syrian army declares complete retake of Dayr al-Zawr desert

Wednesday, 27 June 2018 3:46 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 28 June 2018 12:42 AM ]

Syrian pro-government forces and civilians wave their national flag during a flag raising ceremony at the entrance of the Hajar al-Aswad neighborhood on the southern outskirts of the capital Damascus on May 24, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

Syria's military has announced that it cleared the desert region of the country’s eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr close to the border with Iraq of the last elements of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

The General Command of the Syrian Army announced in a statement on Wednesday that government troops, supported by military aircraft from the Syrian Air Forces, had managed to expel the foreign-sponsored extremists from the area, and establish control over an area of 5800 square kilometers after a series of fierce battles fought by spirited and courageous army troopers, Syria’s official news agency SANA reported.

The statement added that the counter-terrorism operations inflicted heavy losses on terrorist ranks and dealt severe blows to their military hardware.

“Reaching the Iraqi border and crushing Daesh terrorist group in the desert region attest to the great efficiency of the Syrian Army and the strong determination of the General Command of the Army to pursue the remnants of terrorist groups until security, stability and peace prevail, and the entire Syrian soil is liberated from the menace of Takfiri terrorism,” it further noted.

Syrian pro-government forces and civilians rest in the shade following a flag raising ceremony at the entrance of the Hajar al-Aswad neighborhood on the southern outskirts of the capital Damascus on May 24, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups that are wreaking havoc in the country.

Russia has been helping Syrian forces in an ongoing battle in the province of Dayr al-Zawr as the Daesh terrorist group struggles to keep its last positions in eastern Syria.

The Russian military assistance, which began in September 2015 at the official request of the Syrian government, has proved effective as the Syrians continue to recapture key areas from Daesh and other terrorist groups across the country with the backing of Russian air cover.

On May 21, the General Command of the Syrian Army and Armed Forces announced in a statement that complete security was restored to Damascus and its countryside after al-Hajar al-Aswad district and al-Yarmouk camp had been totally purged of Daesh terrorists.

The development was preceded by flushing the Takfiris out of the towns of Yalda, Babbila and Beit Sahem on the southern outskirts of Damascus.

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