Syria army breaks IS siege on Deir ez-Zor air base: state media
Last Updated IST
Members of Deir al-Zor military council which fights under the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) seen in Deir al-Zor province, Syria. Reuters file photo.
Syrian troops today broke the Islamic State group's siege of the eastern Deir ez-Zor military airport, state media reported, days after ending another siege on residential districts of the city.
State news agency SANA said the breach came "after the forces advancing from the cemetery southwest of the city linked up with the forces holding the airbase".
The troops had launched a new push today towards the besieged military airport, as part of its multi-pronged offensive to retake the whole eastern city from the jihadists.
Since 2014, IS has held swathes of Deir ez-Zor province, which borders Iraq, and about 60 per cent of the provincial capital.
Jihadists had encircled two regime-held enclaves in the western half of Deir ez-Zor city, and the army on Tuesday broke through one of the besieged pockets.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also confirmed troops had breached the siege.
"By breaking the siege on the military airport regime forces have been able to link up all the neighbourhoods they hold in western parts of Deir ez-Zor city," the Britain-based monitor said.
State news agency SANA said the breach came "after the forces advancing from the cemetery southwest of the city linked up with the forces holding the airbase".
The troops had launched a new push today towards the besieged military airport, as part of its multi-pronged offensive to retake the whole eastern city from the jihadists.
Since 2014, IS has held swathes of Deir ez-Zor province, which borders Iraq, and about 60 per cent of the provincial capital.
Jihadists had encircled two regime-held enclaves in the western half of Deir ez-Zor city, and the army on Tuesday broke through one of the besieged pockets.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also confirmed troops had breached the siege.
"By breaking the siege on the military airport regime forces have been able to link up all the neighbourhoods they hold in western parts of Deir ez-Zor city," the Britain-based monitor said.