The Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) has recently withdrawn all of its militants from the Al-Teem Oil Fields after relentless bombing campaigns by the Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF) on the latter’s positions around the perimeter of this facility. As a result, local tribal fighters entered the small oil fields without any resistance from the ISIS fighter who controlled this area for over 1 year.
The Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) 104th Brigade of the Republican Guard (Al-Harss Al-Jamhouri) has begun the 90 day training period for the local tribal fighters that have agreed to combat the militants from ISIS in the Deir Ezzor Governorate. The training period will be concluded in the month of March; the fighters will then form their own National Defense Forces (NDF) contingents with the help of the Syrian Arab Army.
At the Industrial Quarter (Al-Sina’a), a force of about 30 ISIS militants attempted to breach the 104th Brigade’s frontline defenses; however, they were subsequently overpowered by the latter’s heavy weaponry and the SAAF’s Hind Helicopter attacks. According to a source from the 104th Brigade, 14 ISIS militants were confirmed dead and another 8 were seriously wounded. Among the dead ISIS fighters were Ma’arouf Ahmad Al-Hussein, Mohammad ‘Anwar Al-Sa’eed, and ‘Usama Suleiman.
On Sakr Island (Haweeja Sakr), the 104th Brigade continued to target the ISIS militants entrenched at the strategic Eastern Bank Fisheries, leading to more violent clashes near the Euphrates River. Yesterday, the 104th Brigade destroyed an ISIS hideout near Central Park, while killing scores of militants, including a Tunisian national identified as “Abu Hadhefa Al-Tounisi”.
After an infiltration attempt into the Al-Rashiyya Quarter, the 104th Brigade – backed by tribal fighters and the National Defense Forces – countered the attack with an assault of their own, targeting the remaining ISIS fighters on the outskirts of this area. 11 ISIS fighters were killed during this attack, including Yahya Ghanaam Al-‘Umar, “Abu Baraa’ Al-Sa’oudi” (Saudi national), and Fawaz Ghazi Shakri.
Earlier today, ISIS militants attacked a 104th Brigade’s checkpoint at the Jubeileh Quarter of Deir Ezzor City, killing 2 soldiers from the latter before they were countered. The counter-attack resulted in the death of 7 ISIS militants, with 1 identified as Abu ‘Ibrahim Al-Masri (Egyptian).
The Deir Ezzor Military Airport has been relatively quiet since ISIS’ last attack over the weekend; this is likely due to the shift of focus to the battle for Radio Hill and the village of ‘Ayyash in the northern part of the district.
For the 3rd time in 4 days, ISIS militants stormed the village of ‘Ayyash, attacking the 137th Brigade’s defenses from the northeast. The attack failed, when the 137th Brigade was able to inflict heavy losses on the intruding ISIS fighters attempting to enter from the northeastern perimeter. Scores of ISIS were killed as a result of this assault, including their Chechen field commander, “Abu Moussa Al-Sheeshaani”.
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