Alwaght- Syrian forces assisted by popular defense groups, have advanced further in the vicinity if the ancient city of Tdmur (Palmyra), a UNESCO world Heritage site, in Homs province.
Reports say ISIS terrorist group has suffered a severe blow in the city with many of its fighters killed and others killed.
A military source told Syrian news agency SANA that al-Qubour valley and al-Qusour Mountains, located to the west of Palmyra, came in the army’s hands on Thursday, after earlier restoring al-Tar Mountain, 3 km west of Palmyra Castle. ISIS gatherings in those areas were all eliminated to the last one.
The army units and the popular defense groups advanced further and killed or injured all ISIS terrorists at Dedeman Hotel and al-Ziraa roundabout at the southwestern entrance of the city.
The source pointed out that the army units dismantled the mines and explosives left behind by the terrorists.
The governor of the Homs province, Talal al-Barazi, says that the Syrian Army could completely liberate the city in 48 hours.
Palmyra, a historically and symbolically significant Syrian city, was overrun by ISIS terrorists last May. The Takfiris have since destroyed UNESCO-listed temples and looted relics dating back thousands of years.
The army reached the outskirts of Palmyra on Wednesday after taking control of the surrounding areas with the help of air cover provided by Syrian and Russian warplanes.
Russia’s airstrikes in Syria targeting terrorist troops were the key to bolstering the Syrian Army’s strength and turning the tide of the war. Moscow has announced that it is significantly scaling down its military presence in Syria as the truce appears to be holding up. However Russian special forces continue to operate inside Syria.
