21.09.2017, Russia.
In Deir-ez-Zor, over 85% of the territory is completely controlled by the Syrian army. Within one week the city will be completely liberated, Major General Igor Konashenkov said on September 21, the Russian Ministry of Defense Press Service reports.
According to Konashenkov, in the past 24 hours the assault units of General Sukhel cleared from terrorists 16 square kilometers of territory and two towns on the western bank of the Euphrates River.
As the Syrian governmental forces are carrying out a successful offensive in Deir-ez-Zor, the US-led international coalition’s operation to liberate Raqqa has been stopped. The city center remains fully controlled by terrorists.
Russian control equipment has registered a movement of SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) militants from the Raqqa province to the northern areas of the Deir-ez-Zor province.
“I would like to underline that the SDF militants approaching Deir-ez-Zor from the north freely join the ISIL [organization banned in Russia ― Rossa Primavera Information Agency] terrorists’ formations. In the past week, Russian drones and reconnaissance have not registered any single combat between ISIL [organization banned in Russia ― Rossa Primavera Information Agency] and the “third force”, SDF. At the same time, Syrian forces have been shelled twice by mortars and MLRS from the areas on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River where SDF militants along with US army servicemen are located,” Igor Konashenkov said.
Russian Special Operations Forces together with Syrian governmental forces are currently carrying out military tasks against ISIL [organization banned in Russia ― Rossa Primavera Information Agency] militants.
“Therefore, the representative of the US army commanders based in Al Udeid (Qatar) has been straightforwardly informed using the special communication channel that any attempts of shelling from areas where SDF militants are located will be immediately suppressed. Any fire positions in these areas will be immediately overwhelmed using all available weapons,” Major General Igor Konashenkov added.
On September 18, the Special Forces of the Syrian army, after a preparation by Russian artillery and the Aerospace Forces, successfully forced the Euphrates River and consolidated on its left bank. After that, engineering units deployed a pontoon ferry, and the main body moved to the eastern bank.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
