DAMASCUS, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army said in a statement Tuesday that breaking the Islamic State (IS) siege on Deir al-Zour city in eastern Syria constitutes a turning point in the war on terror.
Lifting the siege of Deir al-Zour proves the Syrian army's ability to deal a full defeat to the terrorist project in Syria, it said.
It also brings down the foreign plans to fragment Syria, said the statement, adding that the victory will pave way for more military operations against IS in Deir al-Zour.
The government forces, advancing from the countryside of Raqqa province in northern Syria, reached the besieged Brigade 137 in western Deir al-Zour, where around 5,000 Syrian soldiers had been besieged for three years.
Hundreds of IS militants have been killed in the operation that has intensified in recent days. The operation in the Syrian desert and the countryside of Raqqa started in May this year.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said the Syrian forces are expanding their operation against IS in Deir al-Zour.
IS controls half of the oil-rich Deir al-Zour, and most of its surrounding province.
Deir al-Zour is the last major IS stronghold with the terror-designated group also losing its de facto capital of Raqqa to the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which has captured over 60 percent of Raqqa.
