21 displaced people killed in Russian airstrikes on Deir Ezzor

(Zaman Al Wasl)- At least 21 displaced people have been killed in Russian airstrikes on Deir Ezzor province as the regime forces backed by Shiite militias claim they have taken full control of the western bank of Euphrates River, local media unit and pro-regime news feeds said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the bombing raids hit the village of al-Jerzi on the eastern bank of the river, which cuts across Deir Ezzor province.

"Twenty-one civilians were killed, including nine children, very early Wednesday in Russian air strikes targeting residential buildings in al-Jerzi," Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

Russia's Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Valery Gerasimov said on Wednesday that the group has been expelled from its final strongholds in the Euphrates Valley, The Daily Mail reported.

'Therefore, as of today, there's no territory controlled by ISIS in Syria,' he said.

Russian forces have been fighting alongside dictator Basahr al-Assad's troops since 2015 to drive ISIS out of the country.

In November they achieved a major victory after pushing the terror group out of Deir Ezzor, the last major city it held in the Middle East.

That started a campaign to retake other towns dotted along the Euphrates River, which leads to Syria's border with Iraq.

Syrian Democratic Forces took most of the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor after fierce battles with ISIS last week.

The YPG-led forces said it will set up local councils in the liberated areas saying the newly captured territory in the Euphrates Valley will be a part of Democratic Syria.

The Assad army and Kurdish militias have pushed Islamic State from much of the country’s north and east. The borders of ISIS has shrinked in Syria and Iraq to be a small pockets after fall of Raqqa, the de facto capital, Deir Ezzor and Albu Kamal.

Last week, the SDF advanced in al-Sheitat region in the eastern countryside, killing 17 ISIS fighters.

Hundreds of fighters from al-Sheitat tribe have joined the SDF since February 2016 to liberate their areas.

Al-Sheitat tribe that based had revolted against the ISIS rule in July 2014. The Islamic State crushed the revolt in three days, killing, beheading and crucifying members of the tribe.

The monitoring groups said about 2000 tribesmen were killed by ISIS and buried in mass graves.

In northeastern Hasaka province, the SDF reached a one-month truce with ISIS in villages along the Iraqi border in Hasaka province, sources told Zaman al-Wasl.

The truce has halted the last phase of the SDF campaign to uproot the militants from remaining pockets in Hasaka.

According to a military source, big numbers of ISIS fighters are seeking to reach a reconciliation deal may avoid more bloodshed.

The four-point truce stated that all ground and aerial offensive to be ceased. As well to open the ISIS-held crossings for goods and aid securing. ISIS fighters who need treatment can also cross through the Kurdish-held areas in Hasaka.

Zaman A Wasl