Syrian regime forces take control of IS territory in Daraa
Syrian regime forces have taken control of IS-held territory Syria's south.
2 min read
Regime troops launched an offensive in Daraa (Getty)
Syrian regime forces have taken control of the main stronghold of the Khalid bin al-Walid army, loyal to the Islamic State group, west of the city of Daraa in South Syria.
Local sources told The New Arab that regime forces and militias clashed with elements of the IS-affiliated group under intense aerial bombardment before taking control of al-Shajara town.
The development means that IS presence in the Quneitra and Deraa governorates will be greatly diminished.
A huge regime assault on rebel areas of southern Syria also left the IS enclave in the Yarmouk Valley largely untouched, until the government took control of Daraa and Quneitra provinces from the opposition.
Syrian regime troops and militia fighters have stepped up their campaign against the IS territory in recent days, capturing eight villages and towns in the valley, Syrian State media SANA reported on Saturday.
Footage showed government armoured divisions - backed by infantry units that included child soldiers - taking control of villages devastated by recent fighting on the weekend.
A regime offensive was also launched in Badaya al-Sham, the Syrian desert region. This was the area IS forces launched their bloody assault on Druze villages and the provincial capital on Wednesday, massacring more than 220 people, including a large number of children.
Bashar al-Assad's regime has been widely criticised across the political spectrum in Syria for the security lapse.
Local sources told The New Arab that regime forces and militias clashed with elements of the IS-affiliated group under intense aerial bombardment before taking control of al-Shajara town.
The development means that IS presence in the Quneitra and Deraa governorates will be greatly diminished.
A huge regime assault on rebel areas of southern Syria also left the IS enclave in the Yarmouk Valley largely untouched, until the government took control of Daraa and Quneitra provinces from the opposition.
Syrian regime troops and militia fighters have stepped up their campaign against the IS territory in recent days, capturing eight villages and towns in the valley, Syrian State media SANA reported on Saturday.
Footage showed government armoured divisions - backed by infantry units that included child soldiers - taking control of villages devastated by recent fighting on the weekend.
A regime offensive was also launched in Badaya al-Sham, the Syrian desert region. This was the area IS forces launched their bloody assault on Druze villages and the provincial capital on Wednesday, massacring more than 220 people, including a large number of children.
Bashar al-Assad's regime has been widely criticised across the political spectrum in Syria for the security lapse.
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