23 ISIS militants killed in a failed major night offensive on Syrian Army in Western Raqqa

Shortly after midnight yesterday, ISIS launched a major attack on the village of Abou Alaj in an attempt to cut the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) salient in Western Raqqa.

The so-called Islamic State attack was spearheaded by a suicide truck (VBIED) and followed up with an offensive on the village by ISIS foot soldiers; though the attack was eventually foiled by the SAA, both sides suffered heavy casualties during the fierce night-time firefights.

A total of 23 ISIS militants were killed and the SAA also sustained 8 losses – thus bringing the total death toll to 9 soldiers killed-in-action (KIA) during the Western Raqqa offensive, which began on May 1st.

The SAA has advanced 60 kilometers since beginning this offensive and is now within 20 kilometers of Tabqa Airbase.

Soldiers of the SAA uploaded proof of the battle, posting images of the dead ISIS militants from the deadly clashes of the night before: