Minutes ago in the Homs Governorate’s eastern countryside, the Syrian Arab Army’s “Tiger Forces” – backed by the 67th Brigade of the 18th Tank Division, Liwaa Suqour Al-Sahra (Desert Hawks Brigade), and the National Defense Forces (NDF) – have reached Jabal Qassoun in western Palmyra (Tadmur) after a violent battle with the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) overnight.
The Tiger Forces and their allies were able to reach Jabal Qassoun in western Palmyra after imposing full control over the Ancient Palmyra Quarries on Sunday evening.
Currently, the Syrian Armed Forces are combating the ISIS fighters that are entrenched at the Palmyra Castle, which is located atop of Jabal Qassoun; if captured, they will have captured the highest point in the Palmyra countryside.
Jabal Qassoun is the last mountaintop before reaching the western gates of Palmyra’s Old District; it is less than 1.5 km away from the Palmyra National Hospital.