Syrian Army Enters Raqqa in Offensive against Daesh, Retakes Key Hilltop
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Syrian army has crossed the boundary of northeastern Raqqa province after advancing in a major Russian-backed offensive against Daesh (also known as ISIL and ISIS) militants, a report said Saturday.
Heavy Russian airstrikes hit Daesh-held territory in eastern areas of Syria's Hama, near the boundary of Raqqa province, Friday and the army reached the edge of the province, Reuters reported.
The report added that Syrian forces engaged Takfiri militants in the western central province of Hama, liberating a strategic hilltop from the extremists.
Military sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the army soldiers and their allies managed to wrest control over Abu Zain Hill after heavy clashes with the terrorists.
The Syrian army announced Thursday a new operation backed by Russian airstrikes in the Athriya area of eastern Hama province close to the provincial border with Raqqa. State media said the army had made territorial gains and inflicted heavy casualties on the terrorists.
The Lebanese newspaper al-Akhbar said the first aim was to capture the town of Tabqa in Raqqa, the location of an air base and major Daesh arsenal.
Al-Akhbar added that the new Syrian army operation did not aim to reach Raqqa city "in the coming weeks", but the goal was at least to reach Tabqa city and Lake Assad, which it overlooks.
Tabqa was captured by the terrorist group in 2014 and is home to Daesh’s arsenal.
Daesh terrorists have been losing ground in both Syria and Iraq, where they have been involved in a campaign of terror over the past years.
The Takfiri group has tried to remain on the offensive by carrying out devastating terror bombings, including in the Iraqi capital Baghdad and Syrian towns.
United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimates that over 400,000 people have been killed in the Syrian conflict that started in March 2011.
