beirut syria army ally keep fight syria battle end deir al-zor province islamic state last significant stronghold president bashar al-assad say tuesday also indicate might take war u.s.-backed syrian democratic force sdf control quarter syria say war target seek divide weaken state comment come meet ali akbar velayati foreign policy adviser iran supreme leader ayatollah ali khamenei victories terrorist organizations start aleppo end deir al-zor form critical strike foil partition project terrorist goals assad office quote say assad regard group fight syrian state terrorist group syrian army russian air power iran-backed militias wag offensive islamic state eastern deir al-zor province mostly west bank euphrates river sdf alliance kurdish arab militias also battle militants deir al-zor back u.s.-led air strike special force sdf focus territory east river bisect oil-rich province velayati friday say syrian army force would soon advance take raqqa city sdf accuse unite state seek divide syria station force east euphrates witness near future advance government popular force syria east euphrates liberation raqqa city say televise comment visit beirut turkey also support rebel group pocket northern syria wedge kurdish-controlled areas last month army begin set observation point idlib province northwest syria deal russia iran assad say meet velayati battle would last recovery security stability syrian land office say assad say syria war end deir al-zor