Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Raqqa, SANA – During the past few days, the Syrian Arab Army established control over an area of over 1,500 square kilometers, beginning at al-Rasafa in Raqqa countryside and ending at Ethraya east of Hama, marking a new achievement in the ongoing battle against ISIS in al-Badiya area.
Talking to SANA’s correspondent in al-Rasafa, a field commander said that by reestablishing control over this area, the army cut off supply lines between ISIS terrorists in Raqqa and their groups in the countryside of Salamiya area which are almost fully surrounded.
The commander said that this paves the way towards eliminating ISIS completely in the town of Uqairibat and the surrounding villages.
The liberation of this area is also significant on the economic level as it contains scores of oil fields.
The commander pointed out that the army established control over several fields, the most important of them being al-Thawra field which the army liberated according to a precise plan to avoid damaging it, meaning that it can resume production soon.
He also affirmed that the army will continue pursuing ISIS until it is eliminated in every area in Syria, and that this progress in the area between al-Rasafa and Ethraya gave momentum to the army in the fight against the terror organization in other areas, with the army managing to establish control over Jbab Hamad village and strategic hills near al-Hael oil field in Homs province’s eastern countryside.
It should be noted that al-Rasafa has important archeological sites and landmarks including a castle. SANA’s correspondent said that the archeological sites in the city sustained considerable damage due to the attacks and vandalism carried out by ISIS.
Hazem Sabbagh
