Syrian Army Makes Major Advance on City Under Islamic State Siege Race to retake Deir Ezzour pits Damascus and its allies against the U.S.-led coalition By Maria Abi-Habib in Beirut and Nour Alakraa in Berlin Sept. 5, 2017 10:03 a.m. ET

https://www.wsj.com/articles/syrian-army-makes-major-advance-on-city-under-islamic-state-siege-1504620227

BEIRUT—The Syrian army broke Islamic State’s three-year siege of the eastern city of Deir Ezzour on Tuesday, state media said, laying the groundwork for a battle to retake the extremist group’s most important remaining stronghold and the lucrative oil fields it controls there.