3 government soldiers die in attacks in Syrian Desert
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Three soldiers of the Syrian government forces were killed late on Tuesday in attacks, believed to be carried out by the Islamic State (ISIS), in the Syrian Desert.
A military source told North Press that ISIS militants launched an assault on a post of the government forces near the village of Kabajib in the west of Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria.
The attackers, armed with light and medium machine guns, killed two government soldiers and injured another before they retreated into the desert.
Meanwhile, ISIS militants attacked government post in the outskirts of the city of Palmyra in the eastern countryside of Homs, using RPGs and machine guns, the source added.
Intense clashes erupted between the two sides, lasting approximately three hours. The fighting resulted in the killing of one government soldier and left three others injured, while the attackers again withdrew into the desert, according to the source.
The Syrian Desert occupies almost half of Syria, extending into the governorates of Hama, Homs, Raqqa, Aleppo, and Deir ez-Zor.
Much of this desert is under the control of Iranian-backed militias and the government forces. This area often experiences attacks, primarily from ISIS sleeper cells.
The attacks highlight the persistent threat posed by ISIS in the Syrian Desert, where the group continues to operate despite efforts to diminish its presence.