Syrian Army Inches Closer to Palmyra 19 February 2017 War Reports 1355 Source: Fars News The Syrian army, supported by the Russian air force, continued military operations in Eastern Homs and won back control of several points in the Western parts of the ancient city of Tadmur (Palmyra). After fierce clashes with the ISIL terrorists and leaving tens of dead and wounded militants, the army forces regained full control of the two regions of al-Majbal and al-Ramal on the road linking Homs and Tadmur cities. Concurrent with the operations, the Russian fighter jets heavily bombed ISIL’s positions in the two regions and their nearby areas, inflicting casualties on the terrorists. A military source said that the Syrian army forces are now 8km away from the Western gates of Tadmur city near al-Sawaqah school after liberating al-Ramal region and they are now able to lay siege on ISIL militants in certain districts from the three Northern, Western and Southern directions. Earlier today, the Syrian army troops retook full control of Western Torfeh farms near al-Bayarat region West of Palmyra city. The ISIL terrorists sustained heavy losses and casualties in tough battle with the Syrian army troops. Meantime, a military source said that the Syrian army has fortified its military positions in the surrounding areas of al-Bayarat region and the army’s engineering units are defusing mines and bombs from the liberated areas in Eastern Homs. Also, on Saturday, the army soldiers stormed ISIL’s defense lines and managed to take back the village of al-Kalabiyeh in al-Bayarat region. ISIL suffered a heavy death toll and its military vehicles sustained major damage in the attack. Also, the army soldiers stormed ISIL’s defense lines near Tadmur and won back al-Kalabiyeh farms South of al-Bayarat, advancing almost 2km in the region. The ISIL suffered a heavy death toll and its military hardware sustained major damage in the attack.
