Syrian army progress on Deir Ezzor outskirts Syrian government forces were progressing Thursday toward the town of al-Shoula, on the southwestern outskirts of Deir Ezzor, during the ongoing battle against Islamic State (IS) group jihadists. Syria's army and allied fighters, backed by Russian air support, have been advancing toward Deir Ezzor on several fronts in recent weeks, and entered the Brigade 137 base on its western edge, in what Moscow hailed as a key "strategic victory". IMAGES