Syrian army poised to liberate country's east, says Russia

Moscow, Nov 23 (IANS/AKI) Syrian army units, supported by Russian air power, will soon free all areas of eastern Syria from the Islamic State jihadist group, Russia's Defence Ministry said on Thursday.

"Government forces under the command of Syria's legendary general Hassan Sukhel will soon liberate the whole west bank of the Euphrates," the ministry said.

"This will allow it to complete its operation to destroy IS terrorists in the east of the country."

As part of the offensive planned under the guidance of Russian military advisers, Syrian troops under Suhel's command "completely liberated the village of Al Qurayya from Daesh terrorists over the past 24 hours," the ministry's statement said, using the Arabic acronym for IS.

Also on Thursday, the Iraqi army said it had begun an operation to flush out all IS fighters from the western desert area near the border with Syria

The Syrian army on Wednesday secured from IS a string of towns and villages in Deir Ezzor province and on Tuesday re-took the strategic eastern city of al-Boukamal, 140 km southeast of Deir Ezzor city near the Syrian-Iraqi border, Syria's state-run news agency Sana reported.

--IANS/AKI

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