The Syrian army breaks ISIS’ 3-year siege of Deir ez-Zour

Syrian and Hizballah troops reached the eastern town of Deir ez-Zour Tuesday, lifting the siege imposed by the Islamic State for more than three years. The also relieved the 5,000 Syrian troops pinned down at the big eastern air base nearby. The successful offensive, waged with massive Russian air support and Kalibr cruise missile fired from the sea against ISIS forces, restores the Euphrates Valley to the control of the Assad regimne up to the Iraqi border. Also liberated are Syria's oil fields, from which ISIS drew much of its foreign currency revenue while in occupation.