Syrian Army Launches Fresh Anti-ISIL Operation near Ancient Palmyra

“The Syrian soldiers in close coordination with the 67th Brigade of the 18th Tank Division, Liwa Imam Al-‘Ali and the Desert Hawks Brigade launched a powerful assault on the Palmyra Castle (Qal’at Tadmur) that is currently under the control of the ISIL,” the sources said.

“The Syrian Armed Forces are storming the Western perimeter of this ancient fortress after launching thermobaric TOW missiles to weaken ISIL defense ability, they added. “The thermobaric TOW missiles used by the Syrian Armed Forces are specifically used at the Palmyra front because they cause little-to-no damage to the buildings and ancient sites that are filled with ISIL terrorists,” the sources pointed out.

“If the Syrian Armed Forces are able to seize the Palmyra Castle, they will be in full control of Jabal Qassoun; this mountaintop overlooks the Western district of Palmyra and gives the government forces a geographic advantage near the Palmyra National Hospital,” the sources added.

Reports said on Saturday that the Syrian air force, in incessant operations, delivered heavy blows to the ISIL Takfiri terrorists, reducing their bases to rubble around and in the two key cities of Palmyra and Quaryatayn in Homs province.

The Syrian warplanes severely pounded ISIL hideouts and center points in Quaryatayn and Palmyra  and their nearby areas, destroying their structures and fortifications.

The Syrian army air force also destroyed ISIL positions in its aerial operations over the town of Mahasa, South of Quaryatayn.