Syria: Islamic State (IS) attacks a convoy of Syrian soldiers, at least 26 victims
The assault took place in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor. The military was stationed in the area looking for jihadist militiamen. Yesterday the Syrian authorities announced the discovery of the body of the director of Palmyra, who was beheaded in 2015. DNA tests will be carried out to confirm his identity.
A convoy of government army soldiers stationed in the eastern sector of the country, near the border with Iraq, was attacked by militias of the Islamic State (IS, formerly Isis).
According to reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an NGO based in the UK with a dense network of correspondents in the area, at least 26 soldiers loyal to President Bashar al-Assad died in the attack yesterday.
Eyewitnesses claim that the jihadist attack took place in the early hours of the day, in the province of Deir Ezzor. The convoy was stationed in the area in search of jihadist cells or lone wolves loyal to the Islamic State and ready to strike.
“Violent clashes between the two sides led to large human losses,” says a source, calling the toll from fighting the “largest since the start of the year”.