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ISIS fighters launched a large “hit and run” attack on the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in the southern Homs countryside on May 15.
According to the terrorist group’s news agency, Amaq, ISIS fighters stormed a key position of the SAA near the town of al-Sawwanah. After imposing control of the position, the terrorists ambushed a convoy of the army that was heading to repel the attack.
Amaq claimed that 21 soldiers and officers of the SAA were killed in the complex attack. Three army vehicles were also destroyed.
“The fighters of the Islamic state constantly target the Syrian military and its allied forces in Badia al-Sham [ISIS’ term for the Homs desert], causing heavy losses among them, including Shiite militia officers,” Amaq’s report reads.
A Syrian source confirmed to SouthFront that a position of the SAA near al-Sawwanah was attacked by ISIS. However, the source said that only four fighters of the Military Security Shield Forces (MSSF) were killed in the attack, dismissing the remaining claims by Amaq as a mere propaganda stunt.
The attack was likely launched from the remaining ISIS positions deep inside the Homs desert. The terrorists hiding there stepped up their attacks recently taking advantage of the SAA’s ongoing military operation around Idlib.
