Assad's forces move east

It looks like my earlier predictions were right after all.

The next big push by the Syrian Arab Army is headed for Deir Ez-Zor, the city which has been besieged for the last 3 years by ISIS. It is the Syrian city farthest to the east, and is currently separated by ISIS-controlled desert.

While an attack on Raqqa or Idlib would be perhaps easier geographically for Assad's forces, financially speaking, driving east has serious benefits; the main one is oil and gas in Homs and Deir Ez-Zor provinces. Once Assad liberate those provinces from ISIS, the terror state will be enormously crippled.

The benefit of gaining ground in Deir Ez-Zor is akin to the benefit of controlling the city of Aleppo: Syria would be unable to be divided by foreign powers. Had Aleppo fallen to the rebels, a second country may have been formed - with Aleppo retaken by Assad, there is a possible backup plan by western powers to divide Syria east from west. Taking back Deir Ez-Zor would destroy that idea entirely.

Taking back Deir Ez-Zor would give Assad more legitimacy in controlling Syria, as he would then control the majority of Syrian territory and resources. He is currently solidifying control of Palmyra, and preparing the way for the big push east through the Homs province and towards Deir Ez-Zor. I believe this coming stage of the conflict will see enormous progress on destroying ISIS in Syria and ending the civil war.