MOSCOW, August 16. /TASS/. The Syrian Arab Army's elite troops breached the terrorists' defense in the Al-Safa Canyon on Thursday with support from the National Defense Forces in the east of the Al-Suwayda Governorate, the news web portal Al-Masda reported. According to the web portal, the army penetrated 12 km forward after a heavy artillery barrage, which took a heavy toll on the enemy.
The government forces are conducting attacks on a stronghold of the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS, outlawed in Russia) from the southeast and southwest. The militants continue to put up a fierce defense.
The troops cordoned the Al-Safa Canyon off on Monday, cutting the IS groups off from the supply lines coming from the Syrian Desert and the Al-Tanf area bordering with Iraq, that is controlled by the armed opposition with support from the United States. The Syrian Arab Army command had earlier issued an ultimatum for the terrorists, demanding that they lay down arms, something the enemy refused to do.
The operation against the IS in the Al-Suwayda Governorate was launched on August 6. The army liberated 15 communities and restored control over the administrative border between the Al-Suwayda and the Rif Dimashq Governorates. The neighboring Daraa and Quneitra Governorates were liberated from the armed groups in June and July.