ISIS offering stiff resistance in Raqqa, crumbling everywhere else

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-raqqa-idUSKBN1AQ1C2

The Syrian Kurdish Commander of the YPG and Syrian Democratic Forces expects that a long battle is to be expected to take Raqqa city from ISIS.

The Syrian Democratic Forces have surrounded the city of Raqqa and have made retreat impossible for ISIS from the city. Though pundits expected the city to fall quickly, ISIS is fighting tooth and nail for every street and building, just as they did in Mosul.

Meanwhile, Syrian Arab Army gains against ISIS are steadily increasing. Areas to north and east of As-Sukhnah are being cleared out, and the current momentum suggests ISIS may be cleared out of Syria by the end of the year.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/deir-ezzor-mother-battles-july-25-2017-video-map-update/

Unlike in Iraq, once ISIS is driven out of Syria, it is unlikely to return, provided Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and his government remain in power. By the end of the year, ISIS is likely to withdraw from eastern Syria back into western Iraq, to launch its next phase: provoking instability in the Arabian Gulf, south of Iraq.

Further concerns are what will happen in Syria should ISIS be defeated, and whether war between the Kurds, Turkey and Syria will break out. In any case, it may be that, with no ISIS in Syria in the future, US military will have no choice but to withdraw:

http://www.newsweek.com/russia-military-force-us-out-syria-army-official-640650

After the war, it is likely Bashar Al-Assad will continue to rebuild his country, with Iranian, Russian, Chinese and Qatari financial assistance - and watch as the terror organization which once plagued his country would be now plaguing the Arabian Gulf. Assad is likely to rule over the nation until the day he dies.

Syrian Arab Army reaches As-Suknah, last fortress before Deir Ez-Zor

For the Syrian Arab Army, the most important victory since Aleppo is within reach.

After securing Aleppo city from Al-Qaeda insurgents, deescalation zones were established between the Syrian Arab Army and the rebels in western Syria. The result has been the bulk of the Syrian Arab Army has been freed up to fight ISIS in Eastern Syria and rescue Deir Ez-Zor city.

Since the beginning of Operation Great Dawn, remarkable success has been made by the Syrian Arab Army against ISIS. The Syrian Arab Army has regained all lost territory in the eastern Aleppo countryside and has forced ISIS out of the majority of Raqqa province, reaching Deir Ez-Zor province for the first time in many years just days ago.

The key battles for control of eastern Syria are currently taking place in the Homs governate. First of such battles was liberating the Palmyra-Damascus highway; second was the liberation of Arak. The third and final battle on the Homs-Deir Ez-Zor highway is As-Sukhnah.

After As-Sukhnah, the last sizable town before Deir Ez-Zor will be taken. ISIS will completely crumble in Syria and be forced east of Deir Ez-Zor city.

Because of this, ISIS are currently fighting tooth and nail to hold As-Sukhnah. Conscription for all males between 20 and 30 have been legislated by ISIS, which will add to the manpower required to hold As-Sukhnah. ISIS have realised that unless they hold As-Sukhnah, their Caliphate will be destroyed.

For the Syrian Arab Army, As-Sukhnah is a great prize on the road to restoring Syrian sovereignty. After linking Deir Ez-Zor city with the rest of government-controlled Syria, no questions will remain about the legitimacy of Bashar Al-Assad's government.