Syrian Army Surrounds Largest Daesh Hotbed in Homs - Source

The Syrian army supported by militia forces has surrounded the largest Daesh terrorist group's stronghold in the town of As Sukhnah located in the country's province of Homs, a local source told Sputnik on Sunday.

BEIRUT (Sputnik) — As Sukhnah is the largest Daesh hotbed in Homs and the last significant citadel of terrorists on the way to the besieged city of Deir ez-Zor.

"The [Syrian] army and its allies have surrounded… As Sukhnah. They have not entered the town, but the offensive is ongoing and the clashes are on the outskirts of the settlement," the source said.

Another source told Sputnik later in the day that the clashes are underway in the city and the Syrian army continues attacking Daesh terrorists fleeing the area.

"The city has not been liberated completely yet," the source said.

A week ago, Khaled Alkhateb, a stringer working for the RT Arabic broadcaster, was killed in an anti-tank missile attack carried out by Daesh terrorists near a recently liberated settlement in As-Sukhnah, where fierce battles for its liberation were taking place.

On Saturday, the Syrian army supported by its Air Force repelled a Daesh attack on Deir ez-Zor.

Deir ez-Zor, located on the shores of the Euphrates River to the northeast of Damascus, and a military airfield near the city have been besieged by Daesh for over three years, with food and ammunition only being delivered by air.