Syrian army and allied fighters captured on Thursday a key neighborhood in the countryside of the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, the Syrian army said in a statement. The Syrian troops captured Hweijet Saqer following battles with the Islamic State (IS) militants, the latest in a series of victories the army forces achieved recently. During the battles, the army destroyed several explosive-laden vehicles of the terror-designated group and killed scores of its militants, the statement said. The bomb squad has started removing roadside bombs, which were heavily planted in that area, it added. The area has a strategic importance as it links the countryside of Deir al-Zour with the center of the capital city of Deir al-Zour. Earlier this month, Commander of the Syrian military operations in Deir al-Zour Issam Zahreddine was killed while the Syrian forces were attempting to advance in that area. Earlier in the day, reports said the army captured the T-2 oil station in the southern countryside of Deir al-Zour. Xinhua
