A large number of Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh) fighters have escaped the Baghouz pocket in eastern Deir Ezzor and made their way to the Palmyra countryside, a military source near the ancient city told Al-Masdar News last night.

According to the military source, the Islamic State fighters have now taken refuge in the desert region near the T-2 Pumping Station, which was previously under the control until the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) launched their offensive to capture Albukamal in southeast Deir Ezzor.

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The Yemeni military has been embroiled in a battle with the Houthi militias that caused causalities on both sides but has brought the government one step closer to securing Al Dhalea province, a strategically important area between Aden and Sanaa, the Yemeni capital.

The clashes come in light of a massive Houthi redeployment where they have transferred more than three brigades from the port city of Hodeidah to Al Dhalea.

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Turkey’s military bombarded positions of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq on Saturday, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

The bombardment occurred the day before nationwide local elections in Turkey, which present the first opportunity for Turkey’s citizens to express their opinion about the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since he gained vast new powers last June.

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Taliban militants have taken control of the Arghanj Khaw district center in Afghanistan’s northeastern province of Badakhshan after two days of intense fighting, officials say.

At least 12 members of the security forces were killed and another five were wounded in the fighting, local officials said on March 30.

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An officer of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) has complained that whenever the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) risks losing control of one of their bases in Namtu or Lashio townships of northern Shan State, troops from the Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, step in to help them.

Renewed fighting has been ongoing in the Namtu and Lashio areas for almost three weeks, according to the TNLA’s Brig-Gen Tar Phone Kyaw. In joint operations, the TNLA and the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) have been carrying out attacks on RCSS bases with the intention of forcing them to leave the area.

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