The Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) has hit a rough patch in their recent offensive at the provincial capital of Deir Ezzor, losing more ground east of the Military Airport to the Syrian Arab Army’s 104th Airborne Brigade (Harss Al-Jamhouri) and local tribesmen affiliated with the large Shu’aytat tribe.

According to a military source in Deir Ezzor, the 104th Brigade was able to assert full control over the city aquarium, school, and 2 neighborhoods east of the Military Airport. The source also added that 16 ISIS militants were killed and another 11 were wounded during clashes on Sunday.

Following their loss of Al-Muri’iyah east of the Deir Ezzor Military Airport, the embattled ISIS contingent regrouped and launched a counter-offensive to recapture the village; this attack was successful in forcing the 104th Brigade to withdraw from the east district.

However, 2 days after infiltrating into the village and taking-up their positions in the east district of Al-Muri’iyah, ISIS was forced to retreat from the village once again after sustaining heavy losses from fierce gunfire and persistent aerial bombardments from the Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF).