Syrian army forces seize areas in Homs, Dayr al-Zawr

Syrian government forces, supported by allied fighters from popular defense groups, have continued to progress in the country’s central provinces of Homs and Dayr al-Zawr, killing scores of foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants during their counter-terrorism operations.

A military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Syria’s official news agency SANA that Syrian soldiers and their allies could take full control of al-Dhaliyat region in the Humeima district, which lies on the border between Homs and Dayr al-Zawr provinces, on Monday.

The source added that scores of Takfiri Daesh terrorists were killed and their munitions destroyed during the operation, noting that bomb disposal teams are now clearing the area of landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by the extremists.

The fighter jets of the Syrian Air Force also carried out a series of airstrikes against Daesh positions and supply routes across Dayr al-Zawr Province, leaving a large number of the Takfiris dead and injured.

Syrian pro-government forces walk in the northern Syrian town of Maskanah after they took control of the town from Takfiri Daesh militants on June 5, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Separately, Syrian army units struck Daesh positions in the vicinity of al-Maqaber and al-Panorama areas, killing 18 Daesh terrorists and destroying an armored vehicle as well as two pickup trucks equipped with heavy machineguns.

Elsewhere on the southern outskirts of the capital Damascus, Syrian soldiers, backed by artillery units and Air Force jets, engaged Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as al-Nusra Front, militants in Beir al-Kassab and Rajem al-Sarikhi districts, killing many Takfiris.

Syrian government forces also repulsed a militant attack, killing a number of terrorists and destroying five pickup trucks equipped with heavy machineguns, two ammunition trucks and two rocket launchers.

Syria has been fighting different foreign-sponsored militant and terrorist groups since March 2011. UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimated last August that more than 400,000 people had been killed in the crisis until then.