Battles for the Saker island, which is located on the Euphrates, east of the city quarters. The militants controlled this territory for more than 3 years and turned the island into a powerful fortified area.
Saker now is a real fortress that covers ISIS terrorists positions in the eastern districts of Deir ez-Zor. The area is about 7 square km, a well fortified line of defense: trenches, dugouts, minefields.
Syrian artillery is making direct hits, the military is trying to suppress the radicals' firing points from howitzers, so that infantry can force the water obstacle.
- Good hit, today our artillery is having a good day, way to go.
Aviation is bombing concentrated sites of ISIS terrorists and their armored vehicles, revealed by intelligence. In order to organize the crossing, government forces are using a bulldozer, to make a mound. Storming groups are moving to the island under fire. Our film crew is coming with the soldiers.
- Did he show you the way correctly?
Going forward is difficult, despite the action of storm troops, bombers, and howitzer strikes. The militants continue to lay down dense fire.
The Syrian military is trying to destroy ISIS terrorists using anti-aircraft installations. 3 times the government soldiers manage to squeeze out militants to the western part of the island, and 3 times the militants organize effective counterattacks.
This week the government forces managed to force the Euphrates for the first time in the Syrian war. Few would have believed this a few months ago. The engineering units of the Syrian Armed Forces are making a pontoon crossing.
While engineers are working on the river, assault detachments are transferred to the eastern shore using floating transports.
- Go go go, forward, a little bit more.
Front-line troops of the 5th Assault Corps of the government forces are starting to storm the Euphrates in order to create a foothold on the eastern side of the river. And to beat the fighters from the so called Islamic State from small populated areas, these amphibious vehicles are used by the Syrian soldiers in order to transport troops and light vehicles.
So that the militants couldn't strike the engineers with artillery, immediately after landing the assault troops enter into battle with them on shore.
Front-line government forces were able to gain a foothold on the eastern Euphrates shore, and are continuing combat actions. Terrorists of the so-called Islamic State didn't expect that the Syrian soldiers would cross Euphrates exactly here. And now they are mounting a fierce resistance.
After the servicemen were able to gain a foothold on the eastern shore, armored vehicles, anti-aircraft guns, and ammunition were sent here.
- We went towards this river for more than 3 years, and crossing it was a dream. We are glad that we accomplished the task, the morale of the fighters is excellent.
- We came from Al-Sukhnah here, went through the desert, and it was very hot in every meaning. We walked fighting for almost 3 months. We lost friends, but most have made it, and we will go on.
Assault detachments were able to force out militants from a number of settlements on the east coast, and proceeded to expand the foothold. The crossing is being done under militant fire, the terrorists dragged in additional artillery here, and are using mortars.
The pace of the offensive by the government forces at Deir ez-Zor has slowed down, but the Syrian army continues to force out militants from small settlements. To the west of the city units of special forces of the Arab Republic are also active. ISIS terrorists, who control part of the city quarters, may be surrounded, if Syrian assault troops manage to break the resistance of radical Islamists around Deir ez-Zor.
Evgeni Poddubny, Ruben Mirobov, and Stanislav Yulovski. From Deir ez-Zor, Syria — Vesti, News of the Week.
