The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) troops clashed with Islamic State militants (IS, formerly ISIS, ISIL) in the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor, Wednesday, as part of a series of operations aimed at retaking the city.
Deir ez-Zor has been under siege by ISIS since the group launched an offensive on the city in May 2015. Some 125,000 civilians reportedly live in the city under dire humanitarian conditions.