After 3 days of nonstop besiegement, the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) 104th Airborne Brigade of the Republican Guard has forestalled the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham’s advance in the provincial capital of the Deir Ezzor Governorate after suffering significantly high casualties during their onslaught. The number of casualties reported by military sources in the Deir Ezzor Governorate has exceeded 200 dead ISIS fighters in the last 72 hours; while, the SAA has suffered a confirmed 43 soldiers killed-in-action (KIA).

On early Saturday morning, ISIS completely withdrew their forces from the mountains adjacent to the Deir Ezzor Military Airport following the 137th Brigade of the 17th Reserved Division’s counter-attack that resulted in the confirmed death of 84 militants. ISIS media sources reported the capture of the mountains last night and claimed to have killed dozens of 137th Brigade fighter, while taking control of multiple points; this was later denied by an SAA source who stated that ISIS killed 11 soldiers and captured 2 checkpoints in the south.

A loud explosion was heard at the Deir Ezzor Military Airport at 1 A.M. on Saturday morning that was believed to be VBIED attack by ISIS militants at the southern barrier of the base; it was later determined to be a rocket that struck one of the barricades. After the explosion, Firefights ensued southwest of the Military Airport before the violent exchange subsided 1 hour later. According to a member of the 104th Brigade, the soldiers defending the airport are in complete control of all perimeters and entry points inside the base – he further added that the soldiers combed through the surrounding area following sunrise.

At Sakr Island, the 104th Brigade led by Brigadier General Issam Zahreddine has countered the ISIS offensive with an assault on the latter’s positions in the northern sector of the island. The 104th Brigade destroyed 2 pick-up trucks mounted with anti-aircraft machine guns and confiscated a large supply boat used to transport weapons and ammunition to ISIS fighters on the island.

Identified ISIS fighters killed in Deir Ezzor today:

1. Mohammad Hussein Al-Shareef

2. Firaas Fateeh

3. Marjaan Shaabat Hussein Al-‘Alaawi

4. Mohammad Ghassan Marzaan

5. Ahmad Hussein Al-‘Alaawi

6. Jihaad Shaaher Al-‘Assaaf

7. Mohammad Ziad Al-Hussein

8. Mohammad Hassan Al-Mustafa

9. Rahoum Al-Khayr

10. ‘Imad Al-Deen Hussein (Egypian)

11. Abu Fadia Al-Tounisi (Tunisian)

12. Ahmad ‘Ali ‘Abdullah

13. Khodor Yousif Ahmad

14. ‘Abdel-Ghani Mahmoud

15. Hamza ‘Abdel-Khaliq Al-Kareem (Tunisian)

16. Jamaal ‘Adnaan Mohammad (Egyptian)

17. Bassam Mohammad Haathim (Tunisian)

18. Milhem ‘Abdullah Al-Jassim

19. Fadi ‘Abdel-‘Ali

20. Khalil Mura’ay Al-Hammoud

21. Abu ‘Abdel-Rahman Al-Sheeshaani (Chechen)

2 Syrian Arab Army Officers killed at Deir Ezzor:

1. Captain Janeed Ahmad Ahmad of Jableh, Lataki

2. Lt. Col. Shadi Majdi Ibrahim of Jableh, Latakia