Next Stop Raqqa: Syrian Army Poised to Enter Daesh Stronghold

Sputnik News

09:41 14.02.2016(updated 09:47 14.02.2016)

With a number of strategic positions on the border of Raqqa province already retaken, the Syrian Army is now poised to advance into the Daesh-held northern region, Iranian media reported citing a Syrian military sources on Saturday.

'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.

Meanwhile, the Syrian army and popular units continued to advance on the terrorists' positions in the northeastern part of Hama province securing a long chunk of Salamiyah-Raqqa highway.

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.

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