(Zaman Al Wasl)- Nine people killed and 40 more wounded in airstrikes on the town of Albukamal at the Iraqi border as regime forces backed by Russia aerial cover press to deter an ISIS assault in eastern Deir Ezzor province, local activists said on Saturday.
Activist Ibrahim Khalil told Zaman al-Wasl that the strikes have pounded most neighbourhoods of the town, including the main hospital.
On Saturday, the Syrian army and allies have secured the Palmyra to Deir Ezzor road, a major supply route from government territory to the eastern city, defeating a strong Islamic State attack, Reuters reported.
Islamic State’s assault, which began on Thursday, marks the first major counterattack against the Syrian army and its allies since they broke through a swathe of territory to reach the city of Deir Ezzor earlier this month.
Islamic State had captured the town of al-Shoula, which sits on the highway, in its attack.
Helped by the Russian military and Iran-backed militias, the Syrian army’s advance to Deir Ezzor lifted a three-year-long siege imposed by Islamic State on a government-held enclave in the city.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Islamic State attacks had killed more than 58 fighters from the Syrian army and allied forces since Thursday.
Islamic State said on Thursday it had killed around 100 government fighters south of the town of al-Sukhna, which is also located on the road to Deir Ezzor, and announced it had taken a hill overlooking the town.
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