Beirut (AFP) - A commando operation backed by Russian warplanes and helicopters has killed 25 members of the Islamic State jihadist group in central Syria, a monitor said Sunday.

Supported by regime ally Russia, Syria's army has waged a months-long offensive to recapture the vast desert region that stretches from the country's centre to the Iraqi and Jordanian borders.

On Saturday, "25 IS members were killed and others wounded in a commando operation by Syrian regime forces with air support from Russian warplanes and helicopters" in the northeast of Homs province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.

Six members of the regime forces were also killed, it said.

A military source said the operation occurred "20 kilometres inside Daesh (IS) terrorist lines".

The raid allowed regime forces to seize control of three villages in the area, official news agency SANA reported the source as saying.

The army has captured swathes of territory from the jihadists in the province. According to the Observatory, IS now controls just dozens of villages in the east of Homs.

The Syrian "Badiya" is a large stretch of desert that extends over around 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 square miles) of territory.

Since 2015, much of the Badiya has been held by IS, but Syria's army has been chipping away at it since May.

Last week, the Observatory said regime forces had ousted IS from Al-Sukhna, the last jihadist-held town in Homs province.

Syria's army and Russia this weekend confirmed its full recapture.

"The liberation of Al-Sukhna from IS terrorists opens up possibilities for Syrian government forces to launch an assault and free the city of Deir Ezzor," a Russian army statement said.

The jihadists hold the majority of the vast desert province of Deir Ezzor including most of its provincial capital.

The recapture of Deir Ezzor "would largely -- if not completely -- mark the end of the fight against IS," Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Sunday told the Russia 24 television channel.

Regime forces have more than doubled the territory they control in Syria over the past two months, he said.

Story continues

Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad are also fighting the jihadists in the south of neighbouring Raqa province.

A US-backed Kurdish-Arab alliance meanwhile is battling to retake the provincial capital, Raqa city, from IS.

The jihadists also hold the majority of the vast desert province of Deir Ezzor including most of its provincial capital.

More than 330,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict erupted in March 2011 with anti-government protests.</s>Regime forces have ousted Isil from Al-Sukhna, the last jihadist-held town in Homs province.

A commando operation backed by Russian warplanes and helicopters has killed 25 members of the Islamic State jihadist group in central Syria.

Supported by regime ally Russia, Syria's army has waged a months-long offensive to recapture the vast desert region that stretches from the country's centre to the Iraqi and Jordanian borders.</s>Fighting has raged over the weekend in the northeastern part of Syria’s Homs Province, with Syrian Army commandos pushing into an area still held by ISIS, killing at least 25 ISIS fighters in a push backed by Russian airstrikes.

The offensive pushed 20 km across the ISIS line, capturing at least three villages from the Islamist forces, as well as some key surrounding area. Six Syrian soldiers were reportedly also killed in the fighting.

ISIS had once held a broad swathe of desert in this area of Homs, part of an attempt to build a defensive bulwark around their important territory in Raqqa and Deir Ezzor Provinces. Increasingly, however, they’ve lost the roads, and are now losing the villages.

The Syrian military took the last town in this area last week, al-Sukhna, which gives them control of the main highway through the region, and a straight shot into Deir Ezzor. Deir Ezzor has a lot of oil resources, and Syria is keen to gain control of as much as possible before other factions get there first.
• US Officials See Arming Ukraine as Chance to 'Pressure' Russia - August 13th, 2017
• ISIS Rocket Kills Two US Soldiers, Wounds Five in Iraq - August 13th, 2017
• China Warns They Won't Aid North Korea If They Attack US - August 11th, 2017</s>BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:20 P.M.) – The Islamic State (ISIL) is in serious trouble in central Syria, as the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and their allies advance north from the Homs Governorate to the southern countryside of Al-Raqqa.

Led by their elite Tiger Forces, the Syrian Arab Army advanced from the recently liberated Al-Kadeer region towards the Bakhiran area on the Raqqa-Homs border.

Unable to hold their ground, the Islamic State forces withdrew from Bakhiran and nearby Al-Areeka and Al-‘Uthmaniyah, leaving this large desert region to the advancing Syrian Army units.

According to a military source, the Syrian Arab Army killed more than 30 Islamic State militants during this advance, while also closing the gap on the terrorist group’s last supply line to central Syria.

The Syrian Army is now at the outskirts of Al-Kom and Taibah areas, which are all that remain under the Islamic State’s control in this desert region. Once Al-Kom and Taibah are liberated, the Islamic State will be fully besieged in central Syria.</s>The Syrian army and allies managed on Friday night to carry out a quality operation by landing troops behind the lines of ISIL terrorists in Badiya, a desert that extends over some 90,000 square kilometers from central Syria to the Iraqi and Jordanian borders.

The Syrian army and allies advanced 20 kilometers in Kadeir village on Homs-Raqqa border, killing a large number of ISIL terrorists and destroying their tanks and booby-trapped vehicles.

More Details Appear About Tiger Forces Airlanding Operation Behind ISIS Lines (Video, Photos)

Few minutes ago the Syrian media released more info about the Tiger Forces landing operation behind ISIS lines in the province of Raqqah reported earlier today.

According to the report, government troops led by Tiger Forces Commander Suheil al-Hassan were transported by 4 Mi-35 attack helicopters to the eastern Raqqah countryside 21km behind the frontline and Khirbet Makman village, Al-Qadir town and Bir Rahum.

The Russian Aerospace Forces supported the opeartion providing an air cover to the advancing government troops, according to the report.

This was the first ever airlanding operation conducted by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) during the ongoing war. The operation confirmed the growing SAA military capabilities and its restored ability to conduct rapid operations across the country.

Video Shows Syrian Army in Control of Jordan Border in Sweida

Hezbollah Military Media Center posted a video showing the Syrian army and allies controlling posts on the border with Jordan in the southeastern province of Sweida.
• More Details Appear About Tiger Forces Airlanding Operation Behind ISIS Lines (Video, Photos)
• Militants delay departure in Arsal because they don’t want to leave on green buses
• Combat training of Russian pilots has changed in light of Syrian War: military official
• Watch Russia’s Su-25 jet in action against terrorists in Syria

Filed under: Al Qaeda, Free Syrian Army, IRAQ, ISIL, Jordan, Syria, Syrian Army, War on Iraq, War on Syria |</s>A commando operation backed by Russian warplanes and helicopters has killed 25 members of the Islamic State jihadist group in central Syria, a monitor said Sunday.

Supported by regime ally Russia, Syria's army has waged a months-long offensive to recapture the vast desert region that stretches from the country's centre to the Iraqi and Jordanian borders.

On Saturday, "25 IS members were killed and others wounded in a commando operation by Syrian regime forces with air support from Russian warplanes and helicopters" in the northeast of Homs province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.

Six members of the regime forces were also killed, it said.

A military source said the operation occurred "20 kilometres inside Daesh (IS) terrorist lines".

The raid allowed regime forces to seize control of three villages in the area, official news agency SANA reported the source as saying.

The army has captured swathes of territory from the jihadists in the province. According to the Observatory, IS now controls just dozens of villages in the east of Homs.

The Syrian "Badiya" is a large stretch of desert that extends over around 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 square miles) of territory.

Since 2015, much of the Badiya has been held by IS, but Syria's army has been chipping away at it since May.

Regime forces have ousted IS from Al-Sukhna, the last jihadist-held town in Homs province.

Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad are also fighting the jihadists in the south of neighbouring Raqa province.

A US-backed Kurdish-Arab alliance meanwhile is battling to retake the provincial capital, Raqa city, from IS.

The jihadists also hold the majority of the vast desert province of Deir Ezzor including most of its provincial capital.

More than 330,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict erupted in March 2011 with anti-government protests.</s>The liberation of As-Sukhnah paves the way for the operation to free besieged Deir ez-Zor, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

“On August 13, 2017, as a result of joint actions by the Russian Aerospace Forces, Syrian government troops and militia units in the east of the province of Homs, the town of As-Sukhnah was completely freed from Daesh terrorists.”

After fierce clashes, Syrian armed forces units liberated the central and southern parts of the town from terrorists, establishing full control over the city, the Russian military said.

The Russian Defense Ministry said that the strategic town was completely liberated at 7 am.

“The liberation of As-Sukhnah from Daesh terrorists opens new opportunities for the Syrian government forces to launch an offensive and deblock the city of Deir ez-Zor.”

On Saturday, a local source told Sputnik that the Syrian army managed to secure the largest Daesh hotbed in Homs and the last significant citadel of terrorists on the way to the besieged city of Deir ez-Zor.

Last week, the Syrian army supported by its Air Force repelled a Daesh attack on Deir ez-Zor.

Deir ez-Zor, located on the shores of the Euphrates River to the northeast of Damascus, and a military airfield near the city have been besieged by Daesh for over three years, with food and ammunition only being delivered by air.</s>By AFP - Aug 13,2017 - Last updated at Aug 13,2017

Smoke billows following a reported air strike by Syrian government forces in the rebel-held parts of the Jobar district, on the eastern outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus, on Wednesday (AFP photo)

BEIRUT — A commando operation backed by Russian warplanes and helicopters has killed 25 members of the Daesh extremist group in central Syria, a monitor said Sunday.

Supported by regime ally Russia, Syria's army has waged a months-long offensive to recapture the vast desert region that stretches from the country's centre to the Iraqi and Jordanian borders.

On Saturday, "25 Daesh members were killed and others wounded in a commando operation by Syrian regime forces with air support from Russian warplanes and helicopters" in the northeast of Homs province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.

Six members of the regime forces were also killed, it said.

The raid allowed regime forces to seize control of three villages in the area, official news agency SANA reported the source as saying.

The army has capture swathes of territory from the extremists in the province. According to the observatory, Daesh now controls just dozens of villages in the east of Homs.

The Syrian "Badiya" is a large stretch of desert that extends over around 90,000 square kilometres of territory.

Since 2015, much of the Badiya has been held by Daesh, but Syria's army has been chipping away at it since May.

Last week, the observatory said regime forces had ousted Daesh from Al Sukhna, the last extremist-held town in Homs province.

Syria's army and Russia this weekend confirmed its full recapture.

"The liberation of Al-Sukhna from Daesh terrorists opens up possibilities for Syrian government forces to launch an assault and free the city of Deir Ezzor," a Russian army statement said.

The extremists hold the majority of the vast desert province of Deir Ezzor including most of its provincial capital.

The recapture of Deir Ezzor "would largely — if not completely — mark the end of the fight against Daesh," Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Sunday told the Russia 24 television channel.

Regime forces have more than doubled the territory they control in Syria over the past two months, he said.

Forces loyal to President Bashar Assad are also fighting the extremists in the south of neighbouring Raqqa province.

A US-backed Kurdish-Arab alliance, meanwhile is battling to retake the provincial capital, Raqqa city, from Daesh.

The extremists also hold the majority of the vast desert province of Deir Ezzor including most of its provincial capital.

More than 330,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict erupted in March 2011 with anti-government protests.</s>Syrian army soldiers stand on the ruins of the Temple of Bel in the historic city of Palmyra, in Homs Governorate, Syria April 1, 2016. — Reuters picBEIRUT, Aug 12 — Syrian government forces seized full control of the last major town in Homs province held by Islamic State, Syrian state media reported today, as the army and its allies press a multi-pronged advance into eastern areas held by the jihadist group.

Syrian state media cited a military source saying Islamic State militants had been killed and their weapons destroyed at the town of al-Sukhna, some 50 km (30 miles) northeast of the ancient city of Palmyra.

The town is also located some 50 km (30 miles) from the provincial boundary of Deir al-Zor province, Islamic State’s last major foothold in Syria and a major target for the Syrian government.

The jihadists have lost swathes of Syrian territory to separate campaigns being waged by government forces backed by Russia and Iran, and by the US-backed Syrian Democratic (SDF) Forces, which is dominated by the Kurdish YPG militia. The SDF is currently focused on capturing Raqqa city from Islamic State.

Syrian government forces advancing from the west have recently crossed into Deir al-Zor province from southern areas of Raqqa province.

Islamic State controls nearly all of Deir al-Zor province, which is bordered to the east by Iraq. The Syrian government still controls a pocket of territory in Deir al-Zor city, and a nearby military base. — Reuters</s>FILE PHOTO: People shop along a street in the city of Homs, Syria in this handout picture provided by SANA on April 7, 2017. SANA/Handout via REUTERS

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian government and allied forces have taken the last major town in Homs province from Islamic State, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday, as the army advances toward militant strongholds in the east of the country.

The town of al-Sukhna lies some 50 km (30 miles) northeast of the ancient city of Palmyra, which was captured by government forces in March.

al-Sukhna is some 50 km from the administrative frontier of Deir al-Zor province, which is almost entirely under Islamic State control.

A Hezbollah media unit said government and allied forces were making considerable progress inside the city of Sukhna. Lebanon's Hezbollah group fights on the side of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian conflict.

Syrian state news agency SANA reported earlier on Saturday that the army was advancing into al-Sukhna from three directions.

Islamic State is losing ground fast in Syria to separate campaigns waged by the Russian-backed Syrian government on the one hand, and to U.S.-backed Kurdish forces and their allies on the other.

Government forces, backed by the Russian air force and Iran-backed militias, have also been advancing against IS in Hama province and in southern areas of Raqqa province.

U.S.-led operations against IS are currently focused on taking Raqqa city in northern Syria.
A Syrian Army commando unit backed by Russian warplanes and helicopters kills 25 ISIL militants in Central Syria, in the northeast of the Homs Governorate.