One day after reaching the strategic hilltop of Tal Kroum near the southeastern gates of the Deir Ezzor Military Airport, the Syrian Arab Army’s 104th Airborne Brigade of the Republican Guard – in close coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF), the 137th Artillery Brigade of the 17th Reserve Division, and the Shaytat Tribesmen – pushed south from the Al-Thardeh Mountains towards the Al-Thayyem Oil Fields, where they encountered a large contingent from the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) at its northern fences.

Following a long and violent battle with ISIS that stretched for over 4 hours on Wednesday afternoon, the Syrian Armed Forces finally entered the Al-Thayyem Oil Fields, seizing the unused wells that are situated at its northern perimeter.

The Al-Thayyem Oil Fields are imperative to the Syrian Armed Forces because of their proximity to the ISIS stronghold of Mohassan; this desert-city sits along the Mayadeen-Deir Ezzor Road that is used by the terrorist group to transport supplies and reinforcements to contested areas around the provincial capital.

Elsewhere, the Syrian Arab Army’s 104th Airborne Brigade and their allies continued their assault on ISIS’ defenses at Tal Kroum, killing an estimated 20+ enemy combatants and seizing 2 bulldozers.

In addition to their attack on Tal Kroum, the Syrian Armed Forces cleared another 200 meters around the Deir Ezzor Military Airport’s eastern perimeter – firefights continuing near the agricultural school.