ISIS launches fierce attack on government forces in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – On Friday night, the Islamic State (ISIS) launched a fierce attack on military positions of the Syrian government forces and Iranian-backed militias near Deir ez-Zor-Raqqa way on the vicinity of the village of Ma’dan Atiq, west of Deir ez-Zor, east of Syria.
This is the first time for ISIS to arrive the highway connecting Deir ez-Zor with Raqqa and enter inhabited villages.
A military source from the government forces told North Press that ISIS militants attacked positions of Division 17, affiliated with the government forces, on the vicinity of Ma’dan Atiq. As a result, fierce clashes broke out, killing three soldiers of the government forces and the National Defense Forces (NDF).
One of the killed soldiers is Ayman al-Assad, 35, who hails from Deir ez-Zor.
Other groups of ISIS ambushed the vicinity of the clashes and targeted military reinforcements from Liwa al-Quds and the NDF, destroying three vehicles and killing a local leader in Liwa al-Quds called Saher al-Jasem, according to the source.
Before fleeing towards the desert, ISIS deployed its militants on the vicinity of the village and confiscated military and civil vehicles, and food supplies and vegetables from shops, the source added.
The source said, citing eyewitnesses, that ISIS militants kidnapped five people, including Fouad Abdurrazaq, NDF militant, and Hassan Khaled, a member of Division 17.
The government forces sent military reinforcements to the village after ISIS militants fleeing towards the desert and announced a curfew to comb the area, according to the source.