The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies have concluded their large-scale operation along the Homs-Deir Ezzor highway, the M20.
On February 3, an officer of the SAA told the Syrian Arab News Agency that the stratgic highway had been completely secured. The highway is now, once again, open for traffic.
“SAA units are working on two parallel lines, pursuing and eliminating the remnants of ISIS terrorists in the Syrian desert, while securing and protecting the Deir Ezzor-Palmyra-Homs-Damascus international highway,” the SAA officer told the state-run agency.
In order to secure the M20, the army established a network of posts along the highway. Heavily-armed troops were deployed there.
Last month, the SAA and its allies launched an operation to secure the M20 following a series of attacks by ISIS cells. On December 30, 25 civilians and Syrian soldiers were killed when the cells ambushed a bus near Kobajjep on the M20. On January 24, a similar attack by the terrorist group left three service members dead near al-Shoulah.
During the operation, which was backed by the Russian Aerospace Forces, at least three ISIS cells were eliminated by the SAA and its allies.
The tactic used to secure the M20 will likely be followed in other parts of central Syria. The next operation may take place in the Hama-Aleppo-Raqqa triangle, where ISIS cells have already stepped up their attacks.
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