As reported by the Sana government agency, recently the militants were pushed out from a large stronghold, the city of Al-Sukhnah, Homs province. The majority surrendered. On top of that there is an advance to Deir-ez-Zor, tactical operations play a key role here, the enemy is slowly losing the high ground and good positions. One of these operations turned out to be truly professional.
Syrian paratroopers landed right behind the enemy, Russian VKS provided supporting fire. Daria Kozlova on the victorious breakthrough. The operation is brilliant in its organization with a high difficulty. The first in history Syrian army tactical paratrooper landing in the rear of ISIS. "The Tigers have entered the oasis," Syrian editions are coming out with such headlines today.
"Tigers" are elite fighters of the Syrian army under the command of one of the most famous Syrian military leaders, General Suheil Al-Hassan. Local people say about him: his name alone terrifies terrorists more than any weapon. And it was his fighters who landed in the rear of ISIS.
Russian military advisers helped in the preparation of this most complicated operation and management. Before the landing, strikes against ISIS positions were done by the Syrian army's rocket fire systems and Russian VKS Ka-52 military helicopters. With the help of night vision systems, the Russian "Alligators" not only corrected the fire, but also themselves destroyed terrorist armored vehicles. A group flew from Jirah airbase in the eastern part of Aleppo province. Not so long ago, this base was under the rule of terrorists. Now it's a Syrian military stronghold.
Paratroopers landed in Khirbet Miqman village in Raqqa province. It is 20 km from the front line, in the depths of ISIS positions. The paratroopers marched to Al-Qadir on the dried up riverbed and began the assault. The militant's headquarters and warehouses were destroyed, 2 tanks and 2 armored vehicles were damaged. Al-Qadir was taken without losses. In total, as a result of this operation the army gained control of three settlements and two oil fields. The Syrian army is now conducting an offensive from the side of Al-Sukhnah in Homs province.
On Sunday this city completely came under control of the military. This is the first footage of the already freed Al-Sukhnah: on the central square of the city is now the national flag of the Syrian Arab Republic. Right now we are in the very center of Al-Sukhnah, which was liberated on August 12. We surrounded the city and took strategic heights, ISIS positions were completely destroyed, the militants left in the city were liquidated. There are no local people on the streets. Destroyed buildings, broken roads. The soldiers are restoring the water supply and checking the houses.
The task of the Syrian authorities right now is to make the city livable again. Here shots can still be heard. But the military promises that it's not for long. The front line moves further. Al-Sukhnah is a strategic point that blocks the supply channels for militants and opens the way to Deir-ez-Zor. There has been resistance for more than a year. This is perhaps the main point on the Euphrates, which in many respects will tell us about the end of the fight against ISIS. Gradually, the ring around ISIS positions shrinks. Only in the last 2 months, with the support of the Russian VKS, the Syrian troops liberated twice as much territory from the militants than was controlled by the Syrian government in September 2015. And now the offensive continues.
