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 | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |