The SDF have broken the front defense line of Isis south of Deir Ezzor. Operation Round Up reaches Hajin and moves against the Islamic State inside Baghuz

The SDF have broken the front defense line of Isis south of Deir Ezzor. Operation Round Up (Jazeera Storm) succeeded in reaching Hajin, forcing the militiamen of the Islamic State to retreat to inside the stronghold. At Baghuz, after having entered the city, they are going towards the centre. And at present they are fighting in the area around the hospital. At Sha’Fah, instead, the Syrian fighters are still in the suburbs. This is due to their choice to move slowly and cautiously, because of the presence of many civilians still in the area. In all the maneuvers, the Global Coalition provides close air support (CAS) to the troops on the ground. Daesh, in parallel, is trying in vain to slow down the enemy with improvised means. In the last hours, in fact, the jihadists have been burning tires in various areas in the quadrant, producing thick black smoke hoping to reduce the visibility of the Arab-Kurdish air fighters and artillery.

The Syrian army (SAA) takes from Daesh more roads in the Badia desert. The battle, however, will be long. The militiamen are still controlling over 20 kilometers of land. Then, afterwards, the two pockets of resistance will have to be cleared

Meanwhile, the Syrian army (SAA) and the allied paramilitary militias are continuing the anti-Isis offensive in the Badia desert, between Homs and Deir Ezzor. The soldiers managed to gain more kilometers from the Islamic State, along the road which cuts the quadrant in two and goes to the pumping station T3. The Daesh militiamen, while still offering a certain resistance, were forced to retreat further inside the area leaving on the ground weapons, vehicles and equipment. Evidence that they had to make a rushed escape to avoid direct and close clashes. Also the air-fighters of Russia and Damascus are participating in the maneuvers, monitoring the situation from above and carrying out targeted bombings on the jihadist posts. The battle for the SAA, however, has just started. IS still controls over 20 kilometers of roads. And, once liberated these, they will have to eliminate the two smaller pockets of resistance created in the region.