Syrian Army Launches Massive Offensive in Homs Province to Recapture Maheen

“The Syria army troops, National Defense Forces (NDF) and Hezbollah fighters, backed up by the Russian warplanes’ bombardments, stormed the positions of the ISIL terrorists near the strategic town of Maheen,” the army said.

“The Russian fighter jets have been staging massive air raids on ISIL stronghold since start of the operation to pave the way for the ground troops to break through the terrorists’ defense lines,” the army added.

“The ground forces raided the ISIL defense lines following a blitzkreig by the Russian warplanes,” the army went on to say.

“Heavy clashes are currently underway between the Syrian forces and the ISIL militants,” the army said.

“The government forces have taken back the fifth Station Northwest of Maheen after killing and wounding tens of militants,” the army added.

The army further added that the Russian warplanes have started the heavy bombardment of ISIL positions in Quaryatayn and Hadath too.

The strategic city of Quaryatayn is less than 15km to the East of Maheen.

Maheen and the town of Hawareen were captured by the ISIL after the army retreated from the region two weeks ago.

Maheen is home to one of the four main arms depot of Syria, and the biggest in the Eastern parts of the country.

Ever since capturing the city, ISIL has been sending hundreds of militants to hold its ground in anticipation of the Syrian army’s imminent large-scale attacks.

The Syrian and Russian warplanes have been bombing Maheen in numerous sorties in the last two weeks.

Following increasing speculations and rumors about the army’s impending attack to seize back control over Maheen, the ISIL launched an offensive on the town of Sadad earlier today. Sadad which is only a few kilometers to the West of Maheen is the closest for army troops to deploy and dispatch troops to the battlefields in Maheen.

The army repelled the attack on Sadad and killed, at least, 20 ISIL militants.

The Syrian army and its allies have advanced significantly against the ISIL in other battlefronts in Homs province.

Syrian army and its allies, backed up by the Russian and Syrian warplanes, have been pounding the militant groups’ defense lines and concentration centers near Palmyra in recent weeks to pave the ground for recapturing the city from the ISIL with the lowest number of casualties possible.

Reports said earlier today that the Syrian army, Hezbollah and the NDF were advancing rapidly against the ISIL near the ancient city of Palmyra (Tadmur) and were only 2 km to the city gates and 400 meters to the Palmyra Castle.

“The Syrian government forces’ operation was so heavy that the ISIL terrorists left behind their military hardware and retreated form the battlefield,” the army announced.

“The Syrian army and its allies have deployed forces only 400 meters away form the historical Palmyra Castle,” the army said.

“The ISIL terrorists have been surprised and confused by the rapid and strong operation of the Syrian forces,” the army added.

“The ISIL has sustained a heavy death toll and its military hardware has also been destroyed in the operation,” the army went on to say.