Military Source: Quaryatayn Liberation Part of Bigger Military Operations in Homs

“The liberation of al-Quaryatayn is a prelude to more military operations in Homs province and it has taken place as the first phase of the major operations,” an informed military source told FNA on Monday.

The main aim of al-Quaryatayn operations was paralyzing the ISIL terrorist group in Homs province in such way that the Takfiri terrorist group could not conduct military operations anymore.

“The operation in Homs province is a prelude to the main battle for seizing back Deir Ezzur, Raqqa and Qalamoun provinces.

The Syrian Army alongside the National Defense Forces, backed up by the Russian and Syrian Air Forces, ended ISIL’s rule over the ancient Assyrian town of Quaryatayn and freed the entire neighborhoods of the town after days of non-stop battle, army sources said minutes ago.

“The Syrian army and the popular forces pushed the ISIL back from its strongholds in Quaryatayn,” the sources said, adding, “The town is now under full control of the government force.”

“The ISIL terrorists are fleeing from the battlefield in large groups,” the sources added.

They further said that the government forces are fortifying their positions across the newly-liberated town.

“The army engineering units have started to defuse a large number of land mines and explosive devices planed by the terrorists in the town’s streets and building,” the sources said.

“The army is engaged in mop-up operations in the Western part of the town to hunt the remaining pockets of ISIL terrorists, who are trapped in the tight siege of government troops,” they added.

Earlier reports said that large-scale operations of the Syrian government forces in the Southwestern part of Homs province forced the ISIL terrorists to leave behind military equipment and wounded members and flee the Quaryatayn battlefront to save their lives, army sources said.

“The ISIL terrorists are retreating from their strongholds in the surroundings of the ancient town of Quaryatayn and moving towards Khanizir region in the Eastern side of Quaryatayn and the town of Kafir in the Southern side of Quaryatayn,” the sources said.