page_title: Battle of Deir ez-Zor (September–November 2017)
section_title: Capturing the city
hierarchical_section_title: Battle of Deir ez-Zor (September–November 2017) / Battle / Capturing the city
caption_attribution_description: English: Fighting in the city of Deir Ez Zor, November 2.
context_page_description: The battle for Deir ez-Zor was a conflict between Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and the Syrian Arab Army for the city of Deir ez-Zor, a provincial capital, located on the banks of the Euphrates river. For three years the city had been divided into Syrian government and ISIL-controlled halves. The rest of the Governorate was under ISIL control for most of this time, putting the government-controlled half of the city under siege.
  In the summer of 2017, the Syrian Army launched a large-scale offensive in central Syria, where they succeeded in lifting the siege and began offensive operations to capture the rest of the city, as well as the surrounding areas.
context_section_description: On 17 October, the Army captured three districts in Deir ez-Zor and advanced in three other areas, bringing 90 percent of the city under their control.
  On 18 October, while operations were being conducted against ISIL forces on Saqr Island, Major General Issam Zahreddine was killed after his convoy hit a landmine. The following day, ISIL launched a surprise offensive on Saqr Island. They detonated a tunnel bomb before a general attack on Syrian Army positions, aiming to push them off the island. However, the attack was repelled with minimal army casualties.
  On 23 October, it was reported that Syrian airstrikes on the residential neighbourhood of Qosour in western Deir ez-Zor resulted in 15 civilian deaths.
  On 25 October, the Syrian Army broke through ISIL defenses in the northwest section of the Al-Harabisheh district, advancing 100 meters past the city stadium. The next day, after capturing the city's Industrial District, Syrian Army forces led by the elite Tiger Forces crossed the Euphrates and attacked Saqr island from its western flank. By the end of the day, government forces managed to capture the island. They also captured parts of the al-Sena’aa District and entered the Ummal District.
  On 29 October, government forces captured two districts and a stadium in Deir ez-Zor, after which they advanced into a third district. They were attempting to reach an area that overlooks some of the remaining ISIL-held neighborhoods where an estimated 1,500 civilians were trapped. 50 ISIL militants and 23 pro-government fighters were killed during the day's fighting. On 31 October, Syrian Government forces had recaptured the districts of al-Kannamat and al-Rasafeh, as well as completely securing the Old Airport area, after taking the municipal stadium on the previous day.
  On 1 November, the Syrian Army made significant advances in central Deir ez-Zor, capturing Jubaliyah district, the school of law, the central park and the southern part of the Hamidiyah district. On the next day, ISIL's defense lines collapsed as the Tiger forces and Republican guard units made rapid advances in the central parts of the city, capturing Deir ez-Zor's largest district, Hamidiyah. This left ISIL forces squeezed in the four remaining neighborhoods under their control along the western bank of the Euphrates. By midnight, the Sheikh Yassin, Ardhi and Rashdiyah neighborhoods were captured, leaving only the al-Hawiqa district under jihadist control, with around 100 militants confined there. On 3 November, Syrian government forces completely captured the city.
  On 10 November, the Syrian Army controlled 80 percent of Hawijat Qati island after an offensive to capture ISIL's last positions in the area. By 17 November, the last ISIL fighters on the island had surrendered, and the Syrian Army regained control of all territory surrounding Deir ez Zor city.
caption: Syrian soldiers fighting in the streets of Deir Ez-Zor on 2 November
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