After their failed infiltration attempt last week, the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) was poised to launch another attack on the Syrian Arab Army’s defenses at the Deir Ezzor Military Airport; this time, from the northeastern perimeter of the base in order to avoid the large minefield that is adjacent to the facility.
The ISIS attack began on early Monday, when dozens of militants attacked the northeastern gates of the Deir Ezzor Military Airport, hoping that the nighttime would provide them cover from the soldiers entrenched at the guard towers. The militants were approximately 40 meters from the gates when they were spotted moving towards the airport by the guards.
Following their discovery, the ISIS militants came under a barrage of gunfire from the guard towers and the infantry outposts. Unable to press any further towards the military airport, the militants had no choice but to withdraw from their positions in order to evade the Syrian Arab Air Force’s (SAAF) imminent airstrikes. This failed attack on the Deir Ezzor Military Airport is ISIS’ 2nd attempt to break-through the SAA’s fortifications in the month of January.
According to a military source, at least a dozen ISIS fighters were killed during the night attack, including Riyaad Al-Hilaal, ‘Ali Dakheel Al-‘Ali, Jaa’al Al-Raheel, Khalid Jaa’al Al-Raheel, and Toufeeq Hamid Al-Fayyaad. The remaining ISIS casualties could not be identified by the SAA.
