ISIL collapses north of Palmyra as Syrian Army troops surround key gas fields

The Syrian Government moved once step closer to resolving its long-standing energy crisis on Monday amid reports that ISIL militants had withdrawn from an additional two gas fields in the oil-rich region in eastern Homs.

Not long after the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) seized control of several mountaintops northwest of Palmyra, ISIL militants began to withdraw from the Jirah Gas Field.

Following their withdrawal from the Jirah Gas Fields, ISIL began their abrupt departure from the nearby Sha’er Gas Fields after controlling this site for more than a year.

While the ISIL’s alleged departure from these sites is news to celebrate; it is still not clear whether or not they withdrew from this area due to pressure from the Syrian Arab Army or their need of reinforcements in the Al-Raqqa Governorate.