Powerful Islamic State offensive aims to drive Syrian army off Saqr IslandOctober 19, 2017 - 14:04 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Besieged Islamic State militants fighting inside the greater Deir ez-Zor city area have conducted a powerful surprise offensive against the Syrian Arab Army, Al-Masdar News reports. According to military sources, IS forces operating on Saqr Island staged a general offensive against the positions of Syrian army on Thursday, October 19 morning aimed at driving army troops into the Euprhates River. The offensive was spearheaded by a tunnel bomb attack after which IS militants carried-out an intense storming of Syrian Army Republican Guard positions. Despite the intensity of the attack, Syrian Army troops were able to quickly recover from the shock of the tunnel bomb detonation and hold their positions during the militant attack. In the end, the jihadist offensive failed to break even the first line of army defenses and all IS forces managed to achieve in any regard were high casualties among their ranks. This offensive co-insides with the very recent death of charismatic Syrian Army commander Issam Zahreddine, the top military leader for all pro-government operations in and around the Deir ez-Zor city area. Some Syrian military sources see this IS offensive as an attempt by the militant group to capitalize on any possible loss in morale suffered by Syrian troops, however if this was the case then it was clearly a miscalculation by the jihadist faction. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |