On June 8, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) continued its military operation against ISIS in the eastern al-Suwayda countryside and advanced 7km towards the strategic area of Khirbit al-Ambashi, according to the Hezbollah media wing in Syria. Reportedly, the SAA also advanced 10km towards al-Safa Hills, east of Khirbit al-Ambashi.
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Syrian pro-government sources said that Syrian Arab Air Force (SyAAF) warplanes had supported the SAA attack and had carried out a new wave of airstrikes on ISIS positions in the eastern al-Suwayda countryside.
Form its side, the ISIS-linked news agency Amaq reported that ISIS fighters repelled an attack of the SAA on their positions in the eastern al-Suwayda and killed 5 soldiers and officers of the SAA. The source also claimed that ISIS fighters destroyed a BMP-1 armored vehicle and a pickup truck of the SAA with ATGMs.
According to Syrian pro-government activists, hundreds of ISIS fighters are currently hiding in the eastern al-Suwayda countryside. Some of these fighters were evacuated from several districts south of the city of Damascus last month.
The SAA will likely eliminate the remaining fighters of ISIS in the eastern al-Suwayda countryside soon, according to local observers, who doubt that the terrorist group will be able to resist to the SAA advance in such an open desert area for a long time.
