DAMSCUS (Sputnik) – The Syrian Army plans to advance on the city of Deir ez-Zor in the country’s east that has been occupied by Islamic State terrorists, prohibited in numerous countries including the United States and Russia, an informed source told Sputnik on Wednesday.
“The Syrian Army along with its allies are preparing for a broad military operation in the direction of Deir ez-Zor from the direction of Palmyra. It will begin within the next few days as soon as preparations are finished,” the source said.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups. A US-Russia-brokered ceasefire, which excludes terrorist groups, came into force across Syria on February 27.