Syrian, Iraqi Forces Hunt Down ISIS Cells In Border Area (Map, Photos)South Front

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The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and the National Defense Forces (NDF) joined efforts of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) by launching own security operation against ISIS cells along the border area to the southwest of the border city of al-Bukamal.

According to pro-government sources, SAA and NDF units are once again attempting to clear at least a part of the desert from ISIS hideouts. This should allow government troops to grant an additional security to their postions along the Euphrates. Nonetheles, it’s unlikely that this limited effort would allow the SAA and the NDF to put an end to the ISIS threat from the desert. The main reason is that ISIS cells still expirience a freedom of movement in the southeastern desert part of the country, especially near the US-occupied zone of al-Tanf.

Syrian, Iraqi Forces Hunt Down ISIS Cells In Border Area (Map, Photos)

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The PMU launched own operation against ISIS cells in the border area on July 7. Since then, PMU units have secured over a dozen of villages and eliminated several ISIS hideouts. Casualties among ISIS members are also reported. The issue is that in the case of Iraq most of ISIS cells are still hiding in the urban areas in the northern part of the country.