OVERVIEW OF BATTLE FOR DEIR EZZOR ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2017 (EVENING)

Russian troops are in Deir Ezzor. A RT video screenshot

On Saturday, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies captured Muraieiah area and all of its farms south of Deir Ezzor airport, according to the Hezbollah media wing in Syria. The source also said that the SAA killed dozens of ISIS fighters and destroyed many armored vehicles of ISIS during its advance.

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The Hezbollah media wing also reported that the SAA captured al-Kurdiah hill in al-Jafrah area east of Deir Ezzor airport. According to the Hezbollah media wing ISIS fighters are now fleeing towards Saqar Island.

Government forces are at oil facilities near Deir Ezzor city:

Pro-government sources also claimed that the SAA captured Abu Omar village south of Muraieiah area. Abu Omar village is located 25km north of ISIS stronghold al-Mayadin city in the southeastern Deir Ezzor countryside. However, these claims are yet to be confirmed.

North of Deir Ezzor city the SAA and its allies captured Ayyash, the nearvy hill, the Directorate of Agriculture and the al-Hajeif mount, according to pro-government sources.

Meanwhile, the ISIS-linked news agency Amaq claimed that ISIS fighters destroyed a tank of the SAA with an IED in Bughayliyah area north of Deir Ezzor city.

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Amaq also claimed that ISIS fighters destroyed an artillery piece of the SAA with an ATGM in Harabsh district south of Deir Ezzor city on Firday.

Pro-government sources believe that the SAA will likely cross the Euphrates river south of Deir Ezzor city to siege ISIS-held areas inside Deir Ezzor city before attacking it. Earlier this week, a spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry claimed that Syrian government forces had already crossed the Euphrates River and captured positions on its eastern bank. However, this still remains unconfirmed.

Meanwhile, the US-led coalition claimed that Russian forces struck positions of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) north of Deir Ezzor. US-led coalition troops were near the SDF when the group was hit. No coalition troops were injured.

The Russian Defense Ministry officially denied these claims.

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A RT video from Deir Ezzor city:

Russian troops are in Deir Ezzor:

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