Syria in Last 24 Hours:

Army Inches Closer to Ancient Palmyra City

Rasa - The Syrian army and popular forces continued military advances against ISIL in the Eastern parts of Homs province, and narrowed down their distance from the strategic city of Palmyra in the last 24 hours.

News ID: 427769

Date: 01 March 2017 - 18:14

RNA - The army units reached four kilometers from Palmyra city in fierce clashes with the terrorists in Homs province after inflicting heavy losses on the terrorists in tough battle.

The terrorist groups also sustained heavy casualties in other key provinces across Syria.

Homs

The Syrian Army troops continued to advance against ISIL East of Homs province and managed to deploy forces only 4km away from the terrorist-held town of Palmyra (Tadmur), a military source said minutes ago.

The source said that the army soldiers stormed ISIL's positions West of Palmyra and managed to drive the terrorists out of al-Tar mountain, deploying forces at the Western entrance of the ancient city with a just 4km-distance from terrorists' last defense line around Palmyra.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) confirmed that the army has deployed in lands 4km to Palmyra.

Elsewhere in the same province, the army troops could eventually seize control over Jazal oil field and Jahar gas field.

Deir Ezzur

Syrian Army troops and Air Force targeted ISIL's positions and movements inside Deir Ezzur city and in its Southern outskirts, inflicting major losses on the terrorists.

The army aircraft bombed ISIL's concentration centers and positions in the neighborhood of al-Hamidiyeh, near al-Thardah mountain, al-Mohandeseen region and near the airbase in the Southern countryside of Deir Ezzur, killing a large number of terrorists and destroying their military vehicle.

In the meantime, the army troops stormed ISIL's defense lines near Tamin Brigade in the Southern countryside of Deir Ezzur city, leaving a number of terrorists dead or wounded.

Aleppo

Pro-government forces in Syria started a new round of battle against ISIL in Eastern Aleppo and managed to drive the terrorists out of another strategic town.

The army soldiers continued to hit ISIL's defense lines and could take back the town of al-Tayeha Northeast of the newly-liberated towns of Jubb al-Homam and Jubb al-Sultan.

Earlier reports said that the Syrian government forces continued their attacks on ISIL's positions East of Aleppo province and captured three strategic towns after hours of non-stop clashes.

The army men clashed fiercely with ISIL North of Kuweires airbase and managed to seize back the towns of Ji'aa, Khirbet al-Za'ab and Mashtaleh, inflicting a number of casualties on the terrorists.

Raqqa

A source in the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) confirmed that the Syrian army troops have continued their advances against the ISIL in Eastern Aleppo and deployed forces close to the town of Manbij, blocking the Turkey-backed militants move towards Raqqa province.

The source said that the Syrian Army soldiers have reached SDF-controlled regions near Manbij so no pathway has remained open to the Turkey-led Euphrates Shield Operation forces to go to Raqqa province.

The source underscored that the SDF will continue the Euphrates Rage Operation and will advance towards Raqqa; "hence they will also be able to block the Raqqa-al-Bab road and the al-Bab-al-Tabaqa road to Ankara-backed militants.

The sources further added that with the arrival of the Syrian Army in regions near Manbij, the road connecting regions controlled by the Kurds to the Afrin Canton in Northern Aleppo has reopened and Manbij has once again been connected to Ein al-Arab (Kobani).

Idlib

Syrian Army aircraft targeted again the concentration centers and positions of Al-Nusra Front (recently renamed to Fatah al-Sham Front) in Southern Idlib and Northern Hama, inflicting tens of casualties on the militants.

The fighter jets pounded the Al-Nusra positions from Khan Sheikhoun in Southern Idlib to Morek in Northern Hama, killing and wounding a number of militants and destroying their equipment.

Damascus

The Syrian Army troops continued their anti-terrorism operation in Eastern Ghouta and managed to drive Al-Nusra Front (recently renamed to Fatah al-Sham Front) out of al-Qaboun and Barzeh regions, killing or wounding tens of militants.

The army soldiers engaged in an intense battle with Al-Nusra terrorists in al-Qaboun and Barzeh and could push the terrorists back from these two regions.

Field sources said that the army men further stormed Al-Nusra positions along a highway to Harasta and advanced 500 meters along the highway.

The sources added that the army troops also seized a long tunnel of Al-Nusra connecting al-Qaboun farms to Harasta.

In the meantime, the Syrian fighter jets carried out several combat sorties over the Al-Nusra positions near al-Qaboun region and farms between the two regions of Tishrin and Barzeh.

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