The Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) had a rough day on Saturday, as the terrorist group attempted to reenter the east district of the Al-Ghuweiran Quarter; however, what they were not prepared for was the Syrian Arab Army’s 104th Airborne Brigade’s (Republican Guard) stiff defenses around the eastern flank of the provincial capital.
Some 400 ISIS combatants stormed the east district of Al-Ghuweiran Quarter on Saturday morning and many of those same combatants did not return after their assault, as the SAA’s 104th Brigade – in coordination with the Gozarto Protection Forces (Assyrian militia) and Shaytat tribesmen – delivered a powerful blow to the encroaching enemy fighters.
According to a military source from the 104th Brigade, the Syrian Armed Forces killed over 60 enemy combatants at the east district of the Al-Ghuweiran Quarter, including a number of foreign fighters from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iraq, Libya, Egypt and Tunisia.
Also on the eastern front, the Syrian Armed Forces continued their assault on the Red Villas, capturing a number of buildings and destroying three of ISIS’ armored vehicles that were mounted with 23mm anti-aircraft machine guns before dusk on Saturday.
The Syrian Armed Forces also experienced success on the southern front of Al-Hasakah City, where they were able to capture the Faculty of Engineering building en route to their advance towards the strategic Panorama Roundabout that is currently under the control of ISIS.
While the Syrian Armed Forces are pushing south towards the Panorama Roundabout, ISIS is besieging the Al-Ahdath Prison to the southeast of the provincial capital; this is an imperative battle that currently pits the isolated National Defense Forces (NDF) against a large ISIS contingent.
The Syrian Armed Forces did not remain quiet on the western front; instead they attempted to push into the west district of Al-Nishwa, where the militants of ISIS have taken-up their positions around the multiple building blocks separating the east district.