Syrian Army liberates key town south of Palmyra in helicopter escorted operation

After rolling back a massive ISIS salient southwest of Palmyra on Thursday morning, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) pushed further south and reached the rebel-held desert town of Ulaniyah.

Facing superior numbers and firepower, the Free Syrian Army’s (FSA) Osoud Al-Sharqiya withdrew from the town after brief skirmishes with government forces in the afternoon, thereby allowing the SAA’s mechanized contingents to impose full control over Ulaniyah.

The SAA offensive was escorted by squadrons of Syrian warplanes after the US Air Force recently raided government positions not far from the newly captured area.

Osoud Al-Sharqiya amongst other FSA factions operating in the Syrian desert are trained, vetted and equipped by US special forces in Jordan. US troops are also stationed at the Al-Tanf border crossing alongside British and Norwegian units.

Despite proclaiming a counter-offensive two days ago, FSA fighters in the Syrian desert are now in the process of disengaging and are conducting a fighting withdrawal towards the Al-Tanf border crossing, a safe haven due to the presence of US jets.