The Syrian army declared the complete defeat of the Islamic State in Syria’s southern region following the capture of the al-Safa hills, which were the last stronghold under the control of the Islamic State. The Syrian army started the operation in the eastern countryside of Sweida after a deadly attack on the 15th of July was carried out by the Islamic State against the Druze minority in the Syrian city. The attack by the extreme Muslim terror group, resulted in the death of at least 260 people – mostly civilians – and the kidnapping of around 50 others. Earlier this month, the Syrian army succeeded in releasing the hostages from the Islamic State’s custody, through escalating the attacks against the Islamist militants in the desert of Sweida, until fully liberating the area. According to a Syrian field commander, “Tanks and heavy vehicles can’t get here, so we rely on special forces and highly trained soldiers. After being trained, they are capable of all-terrain combat.” / “Every inch in Syria matters. Wherever it is, every area is important. We definitely won’t allow any terrorist presence on our land.” As the Islamic State and other Al-Qaeda linked groups still maintain strongholds in the Deir al-Zour province in eastern Syria and in the central desert area, the Syrian army vowed to continue to fight the terror groups at large across Syrian soil.
