The last few months for the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) have been rough, as numerous failed offensives in both Syria and Iraq has left this militant group on the defensive against the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and the Peshmerga.

As of recently, ISIS has tried to muster up large offensives in the Homs, Aleppo, Hama, and Deir Ezzor Governorates; however, these offensives have all ended in failure, leaving the once powerful militant group in desperation, as their enemies take advantage of their crumbling infrastructure.

ISIS attempted to remedy these recent failures by launching a large-scale offensive at the southern part of the Al-Hasakah Governorate, where they hoped to recover much of the lost territory they conceded to the YPG and Syrian Armed Forces in the months of February and March.

On Monday, ISIS attacked a number of areas in southeast Al-Hasakah, breaking into the villages of Maqbrah, Rad Sharqa, Maylabiyah, Al-Karami, Al-Salaaliyah, and Saba’a Sikoun before they were confronted by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), Al-Ba’ath Battalions, and National Defense Forces (NDF).

Despite their numerous attacks in Al-Hasaskah, ISIS was unable to take control of these villages they entered, as the Syrian Armed Forces’ reinforcements and the YPG’s assault on the southwestern part of the province have created many obstacles for the militant group.

The SAA cleared Maqbrah of all ISIS militants before they discovered at least 20 IEDs hidden in a number of vehicles inside the village; this required SAA sappers to dismantle the explosive devices.

Meanwhile, in the southwestern part of Al-Hasakah, the YPG and Suturo (Assyrian militia) targeted ISIS agglomerations at Tal Maghas, Tal Tamer, and Tal Khanzeer, where they were able to recover lost territory to this militant group.