ISIS kills government soldier, 2 Iran-backed militants in Syrian Desert
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Sleeper cells of the Islamic State (ISIS) launched on Tuesday night an assault on military posts and checkpoints of the Syrian government forces and Iranian-backed militias in the Syrian Desert.
According to a military source speaking to North Press, ISIS militants targeted posts and checkpoints of the government forces and the Iranian-backed Liwa Fatemiyoun militia, consisting mainly of Afghan militants, in the desert near the city of Palmyra and the town of al-Sukhnah in the east of Homs.
The attackers used light and medium firearms during the attack and intense clashes ensued, ending with the retreat of ISIS militants.
The source added that the clashes resulted in the killing of two Afghan Fatemiyoun militants and a government soldier.
Following the retreat, warplanes took off from the T-4 air base in Palmyra and conducted airstrikes against the retreating militants, who had been driving 4WD vehicles, according to the source.
The Syrian Desert covers almost half of Syria, spanning across the governorates of Hama, Homs, Raqqa, Aleppo, and Deir ez-Zor.
Large areas of the Syrian Desert are controlled by Iranian-backed militias and the government forces and frequently witness intensive operations and attacks, mostly carried out by ISIS sleeper cells.