The army soldiers engaged in an intense battle with ISIS West of Palmyra and managed to take control over the villages of Tarfeh al-Qarbi and Tarfeh al-Sharqi near al-Douh region.
Field sources said that the army men also clashed with ISIS from areas near Qasr al-Hayer al-Qarbi up to Khan al-Halabat region South of Palmyra, and could advance against terrorists.
The sources said that simultaneous with the ground forces’ advances, the army aircraft launched heavy airstrikes on ISIS’s movements and concentration centers in Badiyeh (desert) al-Qarbi Southwest of Palmyra, killing a number of militants and destroying their equipment.
Another field source said that ISIS has been pulling back its forces from the surrounding of Palmyra after the Syrian armed forces’ large-scale operation kicked off in Eastern Homs.
A military source said on Wednesday that the army troops were fortifying their positions around Palmyra (Tadmur) to launch a large-scale operation to free the ancient city from ISIS terrorists after arrival of more fresh recruitments.
The source said that the army fortified its positions in Badiyeh (desert) al-Qarbi of Tadmur, in al-Bayarat al-Qarbi region, al-Samamat region, the villages of Tarfeh al-Qarbi and Tarfeh al-Sharqi, the mounts of al-Tar and al-Hayal.
The source went on to say that the army reinvigorated its troops with fresh soldiers, getting ready to kick off a large-scale operation to drive ISIS out of Palmyra.
In the meantime, the army troops significantly advanced against ISIS in al-Maher oilfield and in the slopes of al-Hayal mountain, imposing control over al-Sawaqeh school Northwest of Tadmur.
Local sources reported that ISIS suffered a heavy defeat in clashes with the army men in Eastern Homs and pulled the remaining pockets of its forces towards Jazal and Jahar regions after setting fire at Hayan gas field.