Two days ago, the Syrian Arab Army’s 555th Brigade of the 18th Tank Division captured the Ithriyah Electrical Plant and the Ithriyah Oil Wells during a surprise assault on the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham’s (ISIS) defensive positions at the eastern flank of the Ithriyah-Khanasser Highway.

On Friday morning in the Hama Governorate’s eastern countryside, the Syrian Arab Army’s 555th Brigade – in close coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF) and Kataebat Al-Ba’ath (Al-Ba’ath Battalions) – continued their advance towards the Salamiyah-Raqqa Highway, capturing several small hilltops that were manned by ISIS terrorists.

While the Syrian Armed Forces are still a little ways away from the imperative city of Tabaqa in the Al-Raqqa Governorate, they are in position to expand their control over the eastern countryside of the Hama Governorate, which would ultimately lead them to ISIS’ provincial stronghold.