DAMASCUS, SYRIA (12:30 P.M.) – Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has liberated the important town of Rusafa and the crossroads of the same name in southwestern Raqqa countryside having expelled jihadists of the so-called “Islamic State” from this strategic location.
SAA’s elite Tiger Forces division was engaged in fierce clashes with IS militants since yesterday, with assault further intensified after US-led coalition had shot down a Syrian Arab Air Force (SyAAF) fighter jet in the area.
Dmitry Zhavoronkov, military correspondent for Russian Federal News Agency embedded with Syrian government forces has published photos of Tiger Forces in the recently recaptured town:


This major development allows SAA to secure the future path to Deir Ezzor as Rusafa is the junction of the roads leading from the north (Raqqa city) and from the southeast (Deir Ezzor province).
It is also noteworthy to mention that with Rusafa under SAA control, US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are now blocked from advancing south of Tabqa district towards Rusafa oil fields.
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