ISIS units have attacked pro-government forces near Ash Sholah village and pushed the Syrian military to close the Palmyra-Deir Ezzor highway, according to both pro-government and pro-militant sources.
An intense fighting is now ongoing in thea area between army troops and ISIS terrorists.
The ISIS-linked news agency Amaq claims that a 30km-long part of the highway is closed because of the clashes.
Amaq also claimed that ISIS members captured 2 Russian soldiers. No photos or videos confirming this claim have been provided. If ISIS captured some Russians, most likely they were private military contractors operating within multiple pro-government factions in the area.
The Palmyra-Deir Ezzor highway is the main supply line to government forces operating in the countryside of Deir Ezzor. Any ISIS attacks on the highway slows down the army progress against the terrorist group on the both banks of the Euphrates.