Syrian army liberates 80% of last Daesh bastion: Monitor

Syria’s Army and its allies have liberated more than 80 percent of Daesh’s last stronghold in the country, the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says.

According to Press TV, the London-based group said Sunday Syrian troops re-entered Al-Bukamal two days ago, taking most of it from the Takfiri terrorist group by Saturday following a huge offensive which began on Friday night.

The town in Syria's oil-rich Dayr al-Zawr has become the scene of fierce clashes since government troops entered it a week ago and announced its liberation but then faced terrorists who had hidden in underground tunnels. 

The so-called observatory's spokesman Rami Abdel Rahman said on Sunday that Daesh terrorists were pushed back to the northern and northeastern sectors of the city and clashes were ongoing. 

The fresh push came with heavy airstrikes and troops were advancing more "carefully" than in their previous assault to ensure their gains would not be rolled back, it said. 

Syrian state television aired live footage from Al-Bukamal, saying the army was preparing to "storm the remaining areas" held by Daesh in Al-Bukamal's east.

"What has most impeded the Syrian army's advance is the large amounts of mines left by Daesh and its attempt at using families as human shields," it said. 

Al-Bukamal, near the border with Iraq, was the last significant town held by Daesh in the country after a string of defeats which have put the Takfiri group on the brink of elimination in both countries.  

Daesh's defeat has coincided with a rise in Israeli attacks against Syrian troops and their allies and threats of a wider invasion. 

On Saturday, an Israeli tank fired at a Syrian military position in the northern Golan Heights

Reports said the incident took place near the Syrian Druze village of Hader, which was targeted by Nusra Front terrorists two weeks ago.

The attack on Hader, which began with a terrorist blowing up a car and killing nine people, raised concern about Israeli intentions to use the incident as a pretext to occupy the village and other areas nearby. 

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled that Tel Aviv would take military action in Syria when it saw fit.

SS