ISIS cells abducted more than ten soldiers of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) between the governorates of Homs and Deir Ezzor, the Syrian pro-government blog al-Masdar News reported on March 27, citing a source in Damascus.
According to the source, the soldiers were abducted by the terrorist group while they were traveling on the Palmyra-Deir Ezzor highway. The fate of the soldiers remains unknown.
This was not the first time Syrian service members were abducted by ISIS while moving between the two governorates. Earlier this month, three SAA personnel where captured by the terrorist group east of Palmyra.
ISIS cells are launching these hit and run attacks from their last positions in the Homs desert. Hundreds of terrorists are reportedly hiding there. Most of them are highly-experienced and well-armed.
A day earlier, the Syrian National Defense Forces (NDF) launched a combing operation along the Palmyra-Deir Ezzor highway. While the operation could limit ISIS capability to carry out hit and run attacks, the threat posed by the terrorist group will likely remain until the Homs desert is fully cleared.