Groups linked to Tehran will vigilate the Deir Ezzor-Palmira highway, releasing forces against IS. The road is strategic for moving quickly to Damascus.
IS, increasingly in difficulty in Iraq-Syria, must counter the accusations by other jihadist groups of having abandoned women and children to not lose weight and men.
In Badia the war between the soldiers and the jihadists continues. IS, meanwhile, is trying to raise funds by extorting shepherds with the zakat excuse.
In recent days, at least two tribal leaders have been hit by jihadists. IS seeks revenge against SDF-Inherent Resolve and wants to fuel chaos to catch its breath.
The IS weapons are (foreign) websites and social networks. Objective: to feed the chaos with fake news and rumors to take breath from the enemy pressure.
IS changes strategy: from lightning raids to complex ones with kidnapping of soldiers. To the north, pro-Turkish militias continue to infiltrate Kurdistan.