Syria Claims Troops Killed 81 ISIS Fighters

Syrian state media have claimed significant casualties inflicted on ISIS today, saying 81 ISIS fighters were killed in clashes in the nation’s far east.

11 were reported slain in fighting in Deir Ezzor, a province held almost entirely by ISIS, while the other 70 were reported killed in various fights in the Hasakah Province.

It is surprising to hear Syrian military forces were involved in Hasakah fighting at all, let alone in such major battles, as the province lies on the opposite side of ISIS territory, and is mostly run independently by Kurdish factions.

Though 81 is not a huge number of casualties for ISIS, that they were inflicted by the Syrian military suggests a growing move by Syrian troops back into the east to try to reassert itself in a region that, just months ago, was all but lost.