Russia Sets up New Post Near Iranian Guards in Central Syria

Arab World

February 6th, 7:37am

Damascus - Asharq Al-Awsat

Russian troops are pictured in a joint convoy with Turkish troops (unseen) patrolling in oil fields near the town of al-Qahtaniyah, in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province close to the Turkish border, on February 4, 2021. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP)

Syrian regime forces, backed by Russian jets, launched Friday a large campaign to search for ISIS remnants in the Syrian desert between the governorates of Deir Ezzor, Hama and Homs, several sources confirmed. The campaign aims to clear the Damascus-Deir Ezzor highway from ISIS militants, who have recently surged in eastern Syria by launching attacks on regime positions and their proxies. Meanwhile, Russian forces established a military base in the center of Tadmor, east of Homs, which is controlled by the regime and its proxies. The Eye of the Euphrates news website reported that pro-regime air intelligence forces, which are based at the old offices of political security services in the city, began to equip a new center for Russian forces inside the building. “This building lies near an IRGC position in the city of Tadmor,” the website wrote. This is the second post established by Russian forces in the Syrian desert in the past days after setting up a post near an Iranian position in the strategic city of Qaryatayn, east of Homs. The website said Russian forces are bringing military enhancements from the Russian private military company Wagner Group to the Tadmor military airport, where IRGC forces are positioned. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Friday it documented over 100 Russian airstrikes against ISIS positions in the Syrian desert, mainly in the eastern countryside of Hama. The airstrikes came as a response to ISIS operations in the area, after the militants launched Thursday a surprise attack on regime positions near al-Taym oil field, about 13 km south of Deir Ezzor city, where fierce clashes, accompanied by exchange of fire, took place between the two sides, amid confirmed reports of casualties. Heavy fighting between ISIS and regime forces have also shaken several frontlines in the Aleppo-Hama-Raqqa triangle in the Syrian desert after the extremist group launched a surprise attack on regime positions east of Hama. The attack has left 19 casualties from regime troops and loyal militiamen.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2788216/russia-sets-new-post-near-iranian-guards-central-syria