Onslaught on Daesh: Syrian Army Enters Raqqa Province

Local Editor

Syrian troops had reportedly advanced into Raqqa province after defeating Daesh [Arabic acronym for "ISIS" / "ISIL"] militants in a fierce battle on Friday. The offensive coincides with Iraq's move on Fallujah.

The Syrian army troops had been rapidly advancing on Daesh's Syrian stronghold of Raqqa, claiming a victory over Daesh insurgents at the Zakiyah Crossroad, the strategic area at the border between Hama and Raqqa provinces, Al-Masdar News reported from the ground.

"Regime troops backed by Russian air strikes and entered Raqa province on Saturday morning for the first time since August 2014", UK-based opposing "Syrian Observatory" told AFP.

The advancements followed heavy aerial attacks carried out on Friday in the eastern areas of Hama province which borders Raqqa.

Syrian forces reportedly managed to recapture over 35km [21.7 miles] of land en route to Raqqa within two days.

Following the military breakthrough, the Syrian Army reportedly liberated the village of Abu Al-Allaj.

According to al-Akhbar newspaper, the imminent goal of the Syrian Army offensive, which is supported by Russia from the air, is to reach the town of Tabqa, which lies just 50km from Raqqa. Tabqa was seized by Daesh in August 2014, forcing Syrian troops out of Raqqa province.

Earlier on Thursday, the Syrian Army announced it would launch an offensive either in the direction of Deir ez-Zor or Raqqa, without specifying the details of the operation, Reuters reported.

Based on a report by SANA, more than 40 terrorists were killed when army units thwarted an attack for terrorists of al-Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham on military positions in the surrounding area of Maan town in the northern countryside of Hama.

Meanwhile, Russian jets had intensified strikes on Daesh targets near the Syrian-Turkish border, cutting off the illegal smuggling of oil, which has been a chief lifeline for the terrorists.

A video released by the Russian Defense Ministry this week showed Su-34 bombers destroying an Daesh-occupied oil-refining plant near the Syrian city of Ras al-Ayn.

What appears to be a decisive offensive against Daesh in Syria coincides with the Iraqi operation to retake Fallujah, the terrorist group's stronghold in Iraq. While the offensive had been stalled due to tens of thousands of civilians being used as human shields by Daesh, sources claim Baghdad is confident the city will be retaken "within a week."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team