Aleppo liberated
© Mohamad Maruf / SputnikDestroyed buildings in Deir Hafer, Aleppo Governorate
The whole Aleppo province has been liberated from Islamic State terrorists, General Samir Suleiman, head of information for the Syrian Arab Army, confirmed to RT. "Syria's Army has entirely liberated Aleppo - both the city and the province. ISIS is not in the province anymore," General Suleiman told RT over the phone. Earlier on Friday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) fighters have abandoned the last area they held in Aleppo province.

The withdrawal came after government forces dislodged militants from the Ithriya-Rasafa road and areas east of Khanaser, Reuters reported, citing the media unit of Hezbollah, a Lebanese armed group, which is an ally of the Syrian Army. General Suleiman confirmed the liberation of the road.

Aleppo, which was Syria's largest city before the start of the civil war in 2011, remained split between militants and government forces for years. The Syrian Army, which was assisted by the Russian Air Force, finally liberated it in December last year. The Syrian Army continued their advances on Islamic State and Al-Nusra Front positions in other parts on the country on Friday, according to SANA news agency.

Government forces have established control over "the entire area stretching from al-Rasafa in the southern countryside of Raqqa to the town of Athrya in the eastern countryside of Hama," liberating 13 villages, a military source told the agency.The Syrian Army has destroyed over a hundred terrorist vehicles, including six tanks and two APCs, the source added.

In eastern Homs province, the military dislodged IS fitters from three-kilometer area to the north and east of Arak gas station during an "intense operation." According to Sana, "heavy clashes" are also underway to south of the city of Deir ez-Zor, with the government inflicting significant losses to the jihadist manpower and equipment.