Assad troops reach a sign saying “Welcome to Deir Ezzor” , where 100,000 residents have been trapped by fighting GEORGE OURFALIAN/AFP/GettyOne of the longest Islamic State sieges of the Syrian civil war is close to being lifted by government forces who are within two miles of Deir Ezzor. In recent weeks the Syrian army and allied militias have surged across the eastern desert into the Euphrates river valley to relieve Deir Ezzor, where 100,000 residents have been holding out for more than three years. Yesterday fighting was reported at the military base of the 137th army brigade on the western outskirts of the city, where the army was trying to make contact with relieving forces. Videos from the town showed residents firing jubilantly into the air and cheering their imminent liberation. “The residents of the war-torn city have endured the lack of food and the…

Source: The Times September 05, 2017 00:11 UTC