According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, ISIS carried out an ambush Monday in Deir Ezzor Province, attacking and killing 26 pro-government fighters. This included at least seven Syrian soldiers.
ISIS in Syria has mostly hidden in desert in and around Deir Ezzor, using that area as a site from which to ambush government forces. In the long run, they want to try to retake towns, but so far have not successfully done so.
ISIS seems to perform well in ambushes, but if they try to besiege a town they tend to quickly get overwhelmed by reinforcements and airstrikes, leaving open the question of if they’ll ever hold land again, or just carry out attacks from the desert.
This was the biggest attack by ISIS in Syria since December, when they killed nearly 40 troops in an attack on a bus.
Desert. Deir Azzor.
Sure.
How about a map? To see the famous desert, where these desert dwellers get their food, weapons and vehicles straight from an Alladin’s cave.
Or more likely from former refugee camp under US control next to Al-Tanf, straddling Jordanian border — getting all supplies that way.
And US would take it personally should either Syrian or Russian planes chase the attackers and bombs their lair.
It will happen sooner or later. Russia is known for patience, looking at options. These are clearly provocations.
But for starters, it will be VERY helpful to pin on the map the famous desert, names of villages, hills, any other territory markers. I am not aware of any place suitable for camps of terrorists. Doubt they are ISIS — just run of the mill mercenaries.