Syrian forces displaying the national flag in the village of Suway'iah, near Albu Kamal, last Friday. Syrian regime forces and allied militia from Lebanon, Iraq and Iran overran Albu Kamal last Thursday but lost the town again just two days later after a string of ISIS counter-attacks and ambushes.PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Reuters: Iranian-backed militias routed in last Syrian militant stronghold
AMMAN (Reuters) - Islamic State militants on Monday regained control of Albu Kamal city, their last stronghold in Syria, after Iranian-backed militias who captured the city a few days earlier were ambushed and forced to retreat, tribal leaders, residents and a war monitor said.
Fighters from Lebanese Shi‘ite Hezbollah in Syria who joined forces with Iraqi Shi‘ite fighters crossing the border into Syria were taken by surprise by militants hiding inside tunnels in the heart of the city they claimed to have taken on Wednesday, they said.
The Shi‘ite fighters had launched a ground offensive on the city, located in Syria’s eastern Deir al Zor province, where the Euphrates river meets, after months of mainly heavy Russian bombardment against the city that killed dozens of civilians and caused widespread destruction.
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Update: ISIS retakes key Syrian border town after fierce fightback (Straits Times/AFP)
WNU Editor: This last stronghold will eventually fall. But even though the Islamic State has been defeated on the battlefield, it appears that many still (and will) support them.
