The Syrian command has sent special forces to the province of Deir ez-Zor to eliminate the terrorist gangs from the Islamic State (IS, banned in Russia) operating there, Al-Watan reported on Friday.
According to its information, the operation is being carried out in the Badiya al-Sharqiya desert, from where mobile militant groups attack army roadblocks and transport convoys traveling along the highway to the Iraqi border.
Eyewitnesses told the daily that the terrorists have recently stepped up their raids and carried out several massacres of local residents who are harvesting truffles during winter. On Thursday, a truck carrying members of a local agriculture cooperative returning from work was blown up on a mine planted by militants in the Kabajib area. Eight people were killed and more than 40 injured.
On February 12, terrorists kidnapped 75 citizens who were harvesting truffles in the oasis of Palmyra. It was later reported that the militants shot 16 of them and released 25, the fate of 34 remains unknown. On February 17, an IS motorcycle gang massacred 46 workers and seven soldiers in the As Sukhnah oasis. Most of the victims were shot in the head and five wounded were taken to hospital.
According to Al-Watan, the Arab tribal sheikhs appealed to the authorities to stop the terrorist attacks in eastern Syria.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS