The Syrian army and the National Defense Forces (NDF), backed up by the Russian Aerospace Forces’ attack helicopters, further advanced against the ISIS terrorist group in the countryside of Palmyra, retaking important heights north and southeast of the ancient city. Troops of the recently formed 5th Legion trained and equippend by the Russians played an important role in the operation.
As a part of the operation aimed to secure the northern flank of Palmyra, the Syrian army and the NDF captured a mountain chain north of the Mazar Mountaion and attacked ISIS units at the nearby al-Haram Mountain.
Meanwhile, government forces reseized the Talilah crossroad and the Talilah Heights from ISIS terrorists in the southern Palmyra countryside. The Talilah Heights is located in about 20km southeast of Palmyra.
The ongoing military operation clearly show that speculations, which had been spreaded by some pro-government sources, about the rapid army advance in the direction of Deir Ezzor are far from the reality.