"It is an indication of the direction of coming operations towards Raqqa. In general, the Raqqa front is open <…> starting in the direction of the Tabqa area," Fars news agency quoted the unnamed source as saying.
Tabqa is the territory where a Syrian air base captured by Daesh forces in 2014 is located.
They also managed to push the terrorists away from the key town of Ithriyah, which is the government’s only supply route to Aleppo province along the Khanasser-Ithriyah Road.
Currently, the Syrian Armed Forces are approximately 35 km away from the Tabqa military airport — their primary objective in Raqqa at the moment.
On Friday Syrian pro-government forces gained full control over Tal Madakhah after a fierce firefight with the terrorists positioned on this small hilltop near Ithriyah.
Following the capture of Tal Madakhah the government forces continued their offensive along the Raqqa-Salamiyah Highway.