Iranian-backed militias reel under heavy losses

AMMAN: Islamic State militants regained control of Albu Kamal, their last stronghold in Syria, after Iranian- backed militias who claimed to have captured the city a few days earlier were ambushed and forced to retreat, tribal leaders, residents and a war monitor said yesterday.

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 said they had taken on Wednesday, they said.

The Shi’ite fighters had launched a ground offensive on the city, 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.

“Islamic State militants began surprise attacks with suicide bombers and rocket attacks after the Iranian militias were duped that Daesh ( Islamic State) had left the city,” said Qahtan Ghanam al- Ali, a tribal leader in touch with relatives.

The Syrian army had declared victory over Islamic State, claiming it had killed many militants while scores surrendered. It said the capture of Albu Kamal marked the collapse of the militants’ threeyear reign in the region.

The army made no mention of the loss of Albu Kamal but Hezbollah’s media unit said intensive aerial strikes pounded Islamic State hideouts in the western countryside of the city. — Reuters