from aljazeera
Syrian government troops and allied forces have broken a three-year siege imposed by ISIL fighters on a government enclave in the eastern city of Deir Az Zor, according to Syria’s state media.
Backed by Russian air support, the army and their allies had been advancing towards Deir Az Zor on several fronts in recent weeks, and on Tuesday reached the western outskirts of the city after ISIL defences collapsed.
State news agency SANA said on Tuesday that the advancing forces had joined up with fellow soldiers at the previously besieged government-held air base known as Brigade 137 on the outskirts of Deir Az Zor city.
Ali Mayhub, brigadier general of the Syrian armed forces, said in a statement that “after a series of successful operations, our heroic forces and our allies with the backing of the Russian forces managed to lift the siege on our people in Deir Az Zor city”.