Islamic State militants capture several Syrian army checkpoints in Homs
HOMS – Militant fighters of the Islamic State (ISIS) seized control of some seven army checkpoints after clashes with pro-regime troops in Syria’s central Homs province, activists reported on Monday.
ISIS militants bombed Syrian army checkpoints with mortar shells, then clashes broke out and led to the dead and injury of dozens on both sides.
“The clashes centred in the area stretching from the al-Maqfar village to the Aqareb al-Safi district in Homs countryside, where ISIS was able to seize control of seven checkpoints from the pro-regime forces,” media activist Hamid al-Ali told ARA News in Homs.
“The group [ISIS] also seized a large deal of ammunitions after the withdrawal of the Syrian army troops from the area,” the source reported.
In the meantime, a Syrian army officer, who spoke to ARA News on condition of anonymity, confirmed the death of 16 of their soldiers in Homs clashes on Monday.
“The offensive came as a surprise. The terror group [ISIS] launched simultaneous attacks on our security checkpoints in the countryside of Homs,” the army official said. “After evacuating the area, our forces started to regroup in preparation for attacking ISIS terrorists and regain the lost checkpoints.”
Reporting by: Haytham Mustafa
Source: ARA News
ISIS militants bombed Syrian army checkpoints with mortar shells, then clashes broke out and led to the dead and injury of dozens on both sides.
“The clashes centred in the area stretching from the al-Maqfar village to the Aqareb al-Safi district in Homs countryside, where ISIS was able to seize control of seven checkpoints from the pro-regime forces,” media activist Hamid al-Ali told ARA News in Homs.
“The group [ISIS] also seized a large deal of ammunitions after the withdrawal of the Syrian army troops from the area,” the source reported.
In the meantime, a Syrian army officer, who spoke to ARA News on condition of anonymity, confirmed the death of 16 of their soldiers in Homs clashes on Monday.
“The offensive came as a surprise. The terror group [ISIS] launched simultaneous attacks on our security checkpoints in the countryside of Homs,” the army official said. “After evacuating the area, our forces started to regroup in preparation for attacking ISIS terrorists and regain the lost checkpoints.”
Reporting by: Haytham Mustafa
Source: ARA News
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