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ISIS Loses Eastern Syria’s al-Mayadeen | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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A Russian engineer re-arms a fighter jet at the Hmeimim airbase in Syria. AFP file photo


Syrian regime and allied forces have taken the eastern town of al-Mayadeen from ISIS militants, in the latest blow to the terrorist group.

Al-Mayadeen, near the Iraqi border in Deir Ezzor province, had become a major base for ISIS terrorists as they were being driven out of their de facto Syrian capital in Raqqa city by the US-backed offensive.

Over the past few months many of the individuals which the US-led coalition against ISIS has targeted have come from al-Mayadeen, coalition spokesman Ryan Dillon told Reuters.

The Syrian regime campaign to take al-Mayadeen has been supported by heavy Russian air strikes. The US-led coalition has also previously struck in the vicinity of the town.

Al-Mayadeen lies south of the provincial capital Deir Ezzor city, where Syrian and allied forces are also trying to oust the militants from a small pocket they still control.

“Units of our armed forces, in cooperation with allied forces, have regained control of the city of Mayadeen in Deir Ezzor, killing a large number of terrorists and destroying their weapons,” regime media said, citing a military source.

“Our units are chasing down remaining members of ISIS fleeing the city amid a collapse in their ranks, and the engineering units are removing mines and explosives planted by the terrorists in the streets and square of the city,” the source added.