Update On Situation In Syria’s Qaryatayn Seized By ISIS Sleeper Cells
The situation in Al-Qaryatayn city remains unclear despite the recent deployment of the Syrian Arab Amry (SAA) and the National Defense Forces (NDF) in the area to re-take the city from ISIS cells.
ISIS sleeper cells took control of Al-Qaryatayn during the recent large-scale ISIS attack against government forces along the Palmyra-Deir Ezzor highway.
According to field sources, 16 ISIS members entered the city on Friday evening and with a help of unknown number of ISIS supporters inside the city got weapons and explosives. Reports suggest that the ISIS supporters were members of the NDF stationed in the city.
At the dawn of the next dayy, the ISIS attacl started with two car bombs. The attack started in the southern entrance of the city and 15 ISIS members entered it uniting with and 22 ISIS supporters remaining inside. The ISIS terrorists started killing and taking hostages.
Government forces were pushed to withdraw from Al-Qaryatayn and besieged it. Then, government reinforcements arrived the area and started entering the city.
Following this the internet and the roads to the city were cut off and the ISIS members lost ability to communicate with the outside world. This explains a lack of photos, videos and reprots from the area.
Government forces are now working to drive ISIS members out from Al-Qaryatayn.
Translation provided by SouthFront
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