Syrian Army, Hezbollah Storm Western Palmyra Suburb

“The Syrian Army and Hezbollah started operation to capture Semiramis Hotel in Palmyra Suburb which is now an ISIL base,” a source said.

Similar to the well-known Qatari Royal Villa, the Semiramis Hotel has been turned into a fortified military installation by ISIL, it is also used as the terrorist group’s barracks.

If the Syrian Armed Forces and Hezbollah succeed in liberating the Semiramis Hotel from the ISIL terrorists, they will be in a position to enter Palmyra for the first time since their large-scale retreat from this ancient city on May 21st, 2015.

While the Syrian Armed Forces focus on the Semiramis Hotel, the Russian Air Force is pounding ISIL’s supply route between the city and the nearby town of Al-Sakhanah.

The Russian Air Force carried out more than two dozen airstrikes last night and the number is likely to skyrocket in the coming hours as the battle to liberate Palmyra intensifies.

Yesterday, the Syrian army and its allied militia took full control of the Haya mountain range East of Palmyra, killing at least 70 ISIL militants.

The development occurred as the Syrian army accompanied with popular militia group Desert Falcons has begun their offensive to drive terrorists from the ancient city of Palmyra, since last week.

“The militia from the Desert Hawk Brigade directed by the Syrian Air Force and the Artillery completely took control of the Haya mountain range and a strategic crossroads on the road   Damascus- Deir Ezzur via Palmyra. About 70 ISIL militants were been killed in a single day,” a military source said on latest developments.