Thread by @Charles_Lister

Reports tonight suggest #ISIS has captured the town of al-Kawm (north of al-Sukhna, in #Syria's #Badiya) from the #Assad regime.

A number of #ISIS operations have been reported around Kobajeb, al-Shula & NE of al-Sukhna in recent weeks.

#pt: Amid #ISIS's reported capture of al-Kawm today, #ISIS has also been linked to at least 2 major assaults on pro-#Assad positions outside al-Sukhna in the last 3 days - some say totaling 30+ pro-regime fatalities.

#Syria

#pt: Reports coming from pro-#Assad sources say "2 battalions" of the #SAA's 18th Reserve were besieged by #ISIS in al-Kawm several days ago.

Only today was the siege lifted amid a counter-attack by Liwa al-Quds.

#pts: Reports from various sources have reported a sizable #ISIS presence in #Syria's Badiya for weeks.

@SaraHunaidi reported recently for @ForeignPolicy that as many as 1,500 #ISIS fighters were in the desert NE of #Suwayda - according to local #Druze militias.

@SaraHunaidi @ForeignPolicy According to @syriahr, #ISIS maintains control of 40,000km2 of territory in #Syria's #Badiya, encompassing areas of Suwayda, Homs & Deir ez Zour.

Its attacks there have killed 69 pro-#Assad forces, including 2 #Russia-ns & 9 #Iran-backed militiamen.

syriahr.com/?p=318845

@SaraHunaidi @ForeignPolicy @syriahr According to @UNOCHA, al-Hol IDP camp in eastern #Syria now houses 73,393 people from former #ISIS areas.

- 70% are under 18.
- 65% are under 12.

There's a notable absence of men & boys (aged 15-65) - who are "detained" elsewhere.

reliefweb.int/sites/reliefwe…