Syria in Past 24 Hours: Syrian Army Retakes Control of Strategic Palmyra Triangle

Homs

The Syrian army troops continued to advance against ISIL East of Homs province on Wednesday and managed to deploy forces only 1km away from the Palmyra Triangle West of the ancient city, finding fire control over the western parts of the city, a field sources said.

The source said that the army men and their popular allies engaged in an intense battle with ISIL and could open their way to the main road to Palmyra, deploying forces at a 1-km distance to the strategic crossroad near the ancient city.

The source added that the army men have pushed ISIL back from more positions and are now only 1,000 meters away from the Palmyra Triangle after their advances in Hayal and Kawayeris heights.

He went on to say that the recent advances of the army men against terrorists have enabled the government forces to find fire control over the Palmyra Triangle and even on some parts of the city of Palmyra.

Also on Wednesday, well-placed military sources said that the Syrian army is waiting for the arrival of hundreds more of fresh troops to kick off the final phase of the operation to capture the ancient city of Palmyra.

The source said that a large number of fresh army soldiers and popular forces will arrive in Eastern Homs in next days, adding, “The army is waiting for the arrival of fresh forces to launch the final phase of its operation to free Palmyra from ISIL.”

The source added that the Syrian and Russian warplane are planned to give a massive air cover to the ground troops in the operation.

He added that the Russian and Syrian bombers are continuously targeting movements and gatherings of ISIL terrorists in and outside Palmyra to weaken the terrorists’ defense abilities.

The Syrian army troops in a breakthrough victory over ISIL in the Eastern parts of Homs province on Wednesday imposed full control over the entire region of the Palmyra Triangle just to the Western gates of the ancient city.

The army soldiers stormed the defense lines of ISIL in the Western direction of Palmyra and managed to win back the key Palmyra Triangle region after pounding the terrorists with massive artillery and missile fire and Russian airstrikes.

A field source said, meantime, that the army troops are advancing rapidly toward the Palmyra Citadel.

The source went on to say that the army soldiers had gained full control over al-Moqasem and Tarifawi regions and Qaderi farms West of the Palmyra Triangle before seizing back the Triangle itself.

“The ISIL has suffered heavy casualties in the army attack and was forced to retreat from the region,” he continued.

Also in the past 24 hours, the Syrian army troops repelled another ISIL attack in Eastern Homs, targeting two bomb-laden suicide vehicles of the terrorists and killing 10 militants, local source said.

“At least two bomb-loaded armored vehicles of ISIL with suicide attackers driving them to army positions near the Southwestern entrance of Palmyra were destroyed,” the source said on Wednesday.

The source added that ISIL lost 10 members in the failed attack.

Earlier reports said that the Syrian Army troops in a breakthrough victory over ISIL in the Eastern parts of Homs province on Wednesday imposed full control over the entire region of the Palmyra Triangle just to the Western gates of the ancient city.

The army soldiers stormed the defense lines of ISIL in the Western direction of Palmyra and managed to win back the key Palmyra Triangle region after pounding the terrorists with massive artillery and missile fire and Russian airstrikes.

Hama

The Syrian army troops and Air Force targeted the positions of Al-Nusra Front (Fatah al-Sham Front) in Northern Hama and Southern Idlib, killing and wounding a large number of terrorists and destroying their arms depot.

The army troops attacked one of the command posts of Al-Nusra in Dayer al-Sharqi village affiliated to Mara’at al-Nu’aman region in Southern Idlib, killing 10 militants and destroying two of their vehicles.

In the meantime, the army aircraft pounded the Al-Nusra positions in al-Tamanna town, destroying a large arms depot and killing a number of terrorists, including a commander.

The army soldiers also hit hard Al-Nusra’s movements and gatherings in Jabal (mount) Shahshabo, Rakaya Sajnah village, Tarmala and Ma’ar Harmeh regions, killing at least five militants and destroying their vehicles.

Also on Wednesday, the Syrian Army Troops and Air Force pounded the positions of ISIL and Al-Nusra Front hard in Eastern and Northern Hama, inflicting heavy casualties on both groups.

The army soldiers engaged in heavy fighting with ISIL in Aqayrabat region in Eastern Hama, forcing them to pull back forces from more positions, while the artillery and missile units targeted ISIL’s concentration centers in the same region, imposing major damage on the terrorists’ equipment.

In the meantime, the army aircraft targeted the gatherings and movements of ISIL in Eastern Hama, killing and wounding a number of terrorists and destroying their vehicles.

The army men also stormed Al-Nusra positions in Northern Hama, but the density of terrorists in the battlefield has slowed down the army soldiers’ rapid advances, according to army reports.

Aleppo

The Syrian army troops resumed battle with ISIL in Eastern Aleppo and managed to take back another key town, laying siege on the terrorists in two other towns.

The army soldiers continued to drive ISIL out of more territories and seized back Talileh town, forcing terrorists to retreat to Moqbeleh and Abu Kahf towns.

Army reports said ISIL suffered heavy casualties and its military hardware sustained major damage in the attack.

A field source said that the army soldiers further advanced against ISIL in the region and could lay siege on them in Halisiyeh town from the North and in Abu Mandal town from the South.

The source added that the army soldiers plan to liberate the towns of Abu Kahf, Halisiyeh and Moqbeleh from ISIL.

A top placed military source revealed on Wednesday that the Syrian Army plans to tighten security measures across the regions stretching from East Aleppo to the Kurdish populated territories in Afrin Canton to block any possible advance by either the ISIL or the Turkish soldiers and their allied militants fighting for the Ankara-backed Euphrates Shield Operation.

The source said that the Syrian Army intends to carry out a clean-up operation in the towns of Jubb al-Sultan, al-Za’aroureh, Jubb al-Homam and Jubb al-Khafa and the villages South of Manbij to strengthen its lines of defense along the strip that stretches to the Kurdish-held region in Northeastern Aleppo in order to prevent any effort by the ISIL terrorists to bypass the government-held regions.

Damascus

The Al-Nusra Front terrorist group is on the verge of a devastating defeat in Northeastern Damascus, a military source said, adding that the army will capture vast lands in Eastern Ghouta in the next few days.

The source said that the Syrian Army troops’ anti-terrorism operation in Eastern Damascus is intensifying while the ground has been prepared for those militants willing to join the nationwide reconciliation process and receive government amnesty in lieu of stopping armed clashes.

The military expert added that the Syrian army has been capable of seizing two long tunnels of Al-Nusra connecting al-Qaboun region to its surrounding areas and farther regions in Eastern Ghouta.

He further said there are a number of tunnels in al-Qaboun region that are used by the Al-Nusra, adding that the army soldiers have advanced deep into the Northwestern farms of al-Qaboun.

“Considering the siege of the terrorists in al-Qaboun by the army, it is expected that we witness a full collapse of the Al-Nusra Front in the next days,” the military expert underscored.

Also on Wednesday, fierce clashes erupted in Northeastern Damascus between the Al-Nusra Front and those militants that have declared readiness to sign peace agreement with the Syrian Army.

Local sources in Eastern Ghouta reported that a large number of militants in Barzeh region have displayed intention to join the nationwide peace agreement with the Syrian Army and receive government amnesty in return.

“That is why the Syrian Army has struck off Barzeh from the list of militant-held regions that are under military attack as its targets,” they added.

The sources said that Al-Nusra’s disagreement with the militants’ decision to join the peace plan has sparked fierce clashes between the two groups of militants in Barzeh region.

Deir Ezzur

Syrian Army aircraft targeted al long convoy of ISIL’s military vehicles on Raqqa-Deir Ezzur road, destroying most of the vehicles.

The fighter jets struck a military column of ISIL’s vehicles on the road from Raqqa to Deir Ezzur, killing a number of terrorists and destroying their vehicles.

Army reports said some of the vehicles were equipped with heavy machineguns and others were transporting terrorists and weapons.

In the meantime, the Syrian army forces stormed ISIL’s positions near Tamin Brigade in the Southern outskirts of Deir Ezzur city, dealing a lethal blow to the terrorists, according to the report.

The fighter jets also targeted ISIL’s hotbeds and positions in al-Hamidiyeh neighborhood, al-Thardah Mountain, al-Mohandeseen area in the surrounding of Deir Ezzur Airport, inflicting heavy losses on terrorists.

Dara’a

Intensified clashes between an ISIL-affiliated group and other rival groups inflicted tens of casualties on both sides, sources in Dara’a province said, adding that the terrorist groups have established a joint operation room to stop ISIL’s advances in the region.

The sources said that tens of militants have been killed in clashes between Jeish (Army of) Khalid Bin Valid affiliated to the ISIL and other rival groups in the Southern province, adding that the latter groups of militants have set up a joint operation room to confront ISIL.

The source added that fierce clashes are still underway between the two sides in Dara’a province.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said that Jeish Khalid Bin Valid terrorist group kicked off a massive offensive on rival groups in Northwestern Dara’a ten days ago and won control over several villages, towns and key heights.

The SOHR added that at least 163 militants from battling parties have been killed since February 20, while a number of civilians, including children have lost their lives in the clashes.