Syrian regime forces deployed Monday massive military reinforcement along the Atharya-Khanaser highway in the eastern countryside of Hama in the wake of ISIS escalating operations in the region and the entire Syrian desert, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The London-based group quoted sources as saying uncertainty surrounded the fate of nearly 15 regime soldiers, after communication with them was lost on Friday during an ISIS surprise attack on Al-Rahjan and Al-Shakouziyyah frontlines in eastern Hama.
The missing regime soldiers were traveling in a bus, which was found burned later, but the fate of the soldiers remained unknown as to whether ISIS killed or captured them.
Observatory sources also reported a new ISIS attack on positions of regime forces and the Palestinian “Al-Quds Brigade” in the southern desert of Deir Ezzor. The attack left at least eight members of regime forces and “Al-Quds Brigade” dead, while 11 others sustained various injuries.
ISIS members withdrew just after the attack, while regime forces and “Al-Quds Brigade” later brought in military reinforcement to the area and started a large-scale campaign, searching for ISIS cells.
For weeks, ISIS has managed to escalate its attacks against Syrian regime forces and their allies in the Syrian Badia, largely suggesting that the terror group has succeeded in reorganizing its ranks in the vast desert region.
Meanwhile, Observatory activists said regime forces and their loyal groups sneaked early on Monday to positions controlled by “Jaysh Al-Nasr” on Al-Ankawi frontlines in Sahl Al-Ghab in north-western Hama.
According to SOHR sources, the regime infiltration left 11 fatalities among “Jaysh Al-Nasr” militants, before the Syrian forces withdrew. The death toll is expected to rise as the attack left other rebels injured.
