Following the withdrawal of the predominately Shi'ite Popular Mobilization Units militia from al-Qaim with the Iraqi Army taking over security of the town, [al-Qaim is an Iraqi town directly opposite al-Bukamal] pro-Syrian government forces have set their eyes on liberating the last major town that ISIS controls.
Pro-government forces must liberate Akash fields before they can set their eyes on al-Bukamal.
Al-Bukamal will prove to be difficult to take as most ISIS fighters withdrew from al-Qaim before Iraqi forces arrived.
Some reports suggest that ISIS are withdrawing from al-Bukamal, but that remains to be seen if it true or not.
Comment: Another strategic victory: the Syrians managed to reach this border area before the U.S.-backed SDF could claim it as their own. Once they take the town, this will establish the first Iraqi-Syrian land connection since ISIS occupied the whole of eastern Syria.