Abu Anas Araqi, the ISIS health emir, by taking advantage of ISIS uncertain situation in Deir Ezzor province defected from the ISIS in Bou Kamal town in the Eastern part of the province.
Meantime, the ISIS executed five civilians in the village of al-Tarif near Deir Ezzor city.
The ISIS has recently tightened its security measures in Deir Ezzor after citizens attacked the terrorist group's bases in the province, killing a large number of senior ISIS commanders.
Military sources said on Sunday that the Syrian Army and pro-government tribal fighters were getting ready to launch a fresh round of large-scale attack in Deir Ezzor to reinvigorate security of key military bases in the region.
"The Syrian Army that has recaptured lost land from ISIS in al-Thardah mountain and surrounding areas of Deir Ezzor military airbase is to launch a fresh round of massive anti-ISIS offensive with the participation of tribal fighters in the region," the sources said.
"Five military helicopters have been dispatched to Deir Ezzor airbase to reinvigorate combat capabilities of the pro-government forces there," they added.
"The Syrian army troops and their allies are said to be preparing to move from Kabajeb region in the Eastern side of Palmyra in Homs, while other army units deployed in Palmyra will move towards Deir Ezzor to help their comrades lift the siege of the Eastern city," the sources went on to say.
"The upcoming operation will be in line with the army's offensives near al-Sonouf height in recent days to capture the entire al-Thardah mountain which overlooks at least 80 square kilometers of region's lands," the sources added.
Reports said earlier on Sunday that the Syrian Army troops struck ISIS's defense lines in the Southern countryside of Deir Ezzor and retook the positions the terrorists captured after the US-led coalition bombed army's strongholds in the region, military sources confirmed.
"The Syrian army has regained its positions in al-Thardah Mountain that were captured by the ISIS terrorists following the US-led coalition airstrikes," the sources said.
Al-Thardah Mountain is a strategic position overlooking Deir Ezzor Airport, a vital lifeline for providing supplies to Deir Ezzor city and army units in the region.
The General Command of the Syrian army said on Saturday that the US-led coalition bombed the Syrian army positions in Deir Ezzor, killing some 80 soldiers and injuring dozens more.
According to Syria’s official SANA news agency, the bombing took place on al-Thardah Mountain in Southern countryside of Deir Ezzor and caused casualties and destruction on the ground; FNA reported.
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