Syrian Front: Palmyra Triangle Under Syrian Army Control

Thursday 24 March 2016

Syrian Front: Palmyra Triangle Under Syrian Army Control

Syria360

Report of the Russian Centre for reconciliation of opposing sides in the Syrian Arab Republic (March 23, 2016)

General information on the application of measures for the reconciliation of opposing sides

Within last 24 hours, representatives of the Russian Centre for reconciliation have held 6 consultations and negotiations with representatives of public, business and political fields of the Damascus, Latakia, and Daraa provinces. Issues of ceasefire and providing humanitarian aid to the Syrian population have been discussed.

Preliminary truce agreements with elders of two inhabited localities of the Hama province have been achieved. The total number of settlements, the leaders of which have signed reconciliation agreements, has remained 51.

The number of ceasefire application forms signed with leaders of armed groupings has remained 43.

Results of ceasefire monitoring

In general, the ceasefire regime in the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic has been observed.

In the course of last 24 hours, 5 ceasefire violations have been registered (Latakia – 4, Homs –1).

In the Latakia province, armed formations of Ahrar al-Sham grouping, which had claimed to belong to the opposition one, carried out a mortar shelling against Sandran from Shamruran.

Artillery of the Free Syrian Army shelled the government troops near Roisit Risho village from al-Shekh Hassan al-Rani (Latakia province).

Near Tair Maala (Homs province), Ahrar al-Sham armed formation opened fire with small arms against units of the government troops.

Russian Aerospace Forces and Syrian Air Forces did not make strikes on armed formations, which had claimed to join the ceasefire regime and informed the Russian or American Centres for reconciliation about their location.

Humanitarian aid to the population of Syria

Working session with representatives of the Russian Centre operational group and the Reconciliation Ministry of the Syrian Arab Republic has been held. Issues of providing humanitarian aid to the people living in the Damascus province have been discussed.

Forming of humanitarian convoy for the Babbila citizens (Damascus province) has been started.

Additional information

Leadership of the Russian Centre for reconciliation (Hmeymim airbase) and the American Coordination Centre (Amman) held another teleconference session.

The sides exchanged information about ceasefire violations taken place in the Syrian territory. Topical issues of delivering international humanitarian convoys to the Damascus province have been discussed.

The parties denoted significant reduce of ceasefire violations with usage of heavy armament.

Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation

Palmyra: The Syrian army achieved significant progress on the various axes of engagement with terrorists organization “Daash”

Syrian Army Liberate Palmyra Triangle

TEHRAN (FNA)- At approximately 11:45 P.M. (Damascus Time) on Tuesday night, the Syrian Army’s “Tiger Forces”,the Desert Hawks Brigade, Iraqi militia forces of Liwa Imam ‘Ali, and the Syrian Marines, imposed full control over the Palmyra (Tadmur) Triangle after advancing Eastward from Jabal Hiyyal.

According to battlefield reports in the Palmyra suburbs, the Syrian Army and their allies liberated this strategic area after a fierce battle with the ISIL militants, Al Masdar reported.

The sources added that the Syrian Armed Forces and their allies suffered minimal casualties, while the ISIL terrorists lost an estimated 20-30 combatants before their positions were overran by the government forces.

With the Palmyra Triangle under their control, the Syrian Armed Forces are now within a afew miles away from Palmyra, this is also the closest that the government forces have been to this city since their complete withdrawal on May 21st, 2015.

Meanwhile, north of the Palmyra Triangle, the Tiger Forces and Desert Hawks are pressing ISIL’ defenses at Jabal Al-Tar, as they are reportedly close to capturing this important mountaintop in Western Palmyra.

Syrian Army Encircles Quaryatayn, Palmyra Battle Continues

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian Army’s 11th Division and 3rd Division have secured all hills around al-Qaraytayn city, a battlefield source reported on Wednesday.

With ISIL still in control of the city, their fighters now face the option of stay and die in war with government forces or retreat.

According to the reports, the Syrian Government prefers the latter as they do not wish to suffer the casualties which will naturally be sustained by attacking a large town filled with improvised ISIL traps and potential suicide bombers, therefore, they have left a line of retreat open for the ISIL militants.

Not long ago, ISIL actually caused a temporal predicament for Syrian military commanders as they were able to advance westwards of al-Quaryatayn and captured both Maheen and Sadad while marching dangerously closely to the government strongholds of Qarah and An-Nabk.

However, this entire offensive was halted within weeks and now, ISIL remains bogged down at al-Quaryatayn.

Meanwhile, in Palmyra, the Syrian government troops have also experienced some successes with capturing hilltops, however, they have not begun the operation to enter the historic city due to extensive minefields and fortifications of ISIL warriors in the area.

Syrian Army enjoys support from several units including, the Tiger Forces, the Syrian Marines, the Desert Hawk Brigade, Hezbollah along with several volunteer Iraqi paramilitary groups.

In total, some 5,000 to 5,500 soldiers are stationed on the Palmyra frontline and with the Russian Air force aiding their every operation and the eventual capture of Palmyra within weeks seems within their reach.

The army continues operation around Palmyra, foils ISIS attack in Deir Ezzor city
23 March، 2016
Provinces, SANA

The Syrian Arab Army and the Syrian Air Force continued targeting ISIS terrorists on Wednesday, destroying their positions, supply routes, and vehicles and establishing control over areas near Palmyra in Homs province, in addition to foiling a terrorist attack in Deir Ezzor province.

Homs

Army and Armed Forces units, in cooperation with popular defense groups, established control over the strategic “Palmyra Triangle” area and all land formations that serve as vantage points overlooking the city of Palmyra (Tadmur) in Homs province from the west and southwest after eliminating the last remaining concentrations of ISIS terrorists in these areas.

A military source told SANA that the army units and popular defense groups also established full control over both the northern foot and western foot of al-Tarr Mountain 3 km northwest of Palmyra Citadel, inflicting heavy losses on ISIS in personnel and equipment.

The source also said that the Syrian Air Force targeted convoys of vehicles for ISIS on the road linking Palmyra with al-Sukhneh, destroying dozens of vehicles and leaving many terrorists dead or injured, in addition to targeting ISIS concentrations and movements in the area of Wadi Abyad dam, west of Shaer oil field, and in Um Sheirij village 70 km east of Homs city.

The Syrian Air Force also destroyed ISIS hotbeds, bases and vehicles in al-Qaryatain city in the southeastern countryside of the province.

Deir Ezzor

An army unit destroyed a car bomb for ISIS terrorists on the outskirts of al-Sinaa neighborhood in Deir Ezzor city.

A source on the ground explained SANA on Wednesday that an army unit clashed with ISIS terrorists who attacked the neighborhood, inflicting heavy losses upon them in personnel and equipment, including destroying a vehicle packed with explosives.

Hama

A military source told SANA that the Syrian Air Force destroyed vehicles for ISIS terrorists in the villages of Abu Hbailat, al-Uqairibat, Akesh, al-Qastal al-Westani, Jub al-Rihan, Jurouh, al-Rawda, Rasm al-Awabed, Oum Jub, and Rasm al-Tineh in the countryside of Hama province.

Syrian Army Jets Destroy ISIL Positions in Homs Province

TEHRAN (FNA)- The ISIL terrorist group sustained growing loss and damage in the Syrian air assaults in Eastern and Southeastern parts of Homs province on Tuesday, battlefield reports said.

“The Syrian fighter jets carried out several combat flights over the concentration centers of the ISIL militant group in the vicinity of Palmyra (Tadmur) and in the city of Quaryatayn in Central Homs province, inflicting heavy damage and losses on the terrorists,” the reports said.

During the past 24 hours, the Syrian army and its allied forces took full control of the Haya mountain range East of Palmyra, killing at least 70 ISIL militants.

The Desert Hawk Brigade of the Syrian Air Force and the artillery completely took control of the Haya mountain range and a strategic crossroad on Damascus-Deir Ezzur road via Palmyra.

“Around 70 ISIL militants were killed in a single day,” the source said.

Earlier, the Syrian army and popular forces seized control of two strategic roads leading to the militant-held city of Palmyra.

“The Damascus-Palmyra and Quaryatayn-Palmyra roads were liberated after heavy clashes between the Syrian forces and the terrorists in the region in which tens of militants were killed,” army sources said on Tuesday.

Other reports from the region also said that the National Defense Forces (NDF) and the Desert Hawk Brigade or Desert Falcons are joining the army around Palmyra to liberate the ancient city.

Aleppo Governor: Aleppo– Khanaser road witnessing normal traffic
23 March، 2016
Aleppo, SANA

Aleppo Governor Mohammad Marwan Olabi said that Aleppo- Khanaser- Athriya road is witnessing normal traffic thanks to heroes of the Syrian Arab Army who are protecting and securing it.

Olabi added in a statement to SANA reporter that all rumors published on social media about the road being blocked are untrue and mere desperate attempts to undermine the steadfastness of the locals in Aleppo.

Regarding oil products, the governor said that there was a slight decline early this week due to the weekend and Mother’s Day holiday which had an impact on their availability at gas stations.

Olabi noted that the quantity of fuel allocated to Aleppo will return to normal on Thursday and will be available at gas stations.

Social media pages published false rumors about blocking Khanaser road which was fully secured by the army on March 1st after eliminating terrorist groups from ISIS organization that had infiltrated to it earlier.

Qabas / Manal

ISIL Snatches Land from Rival Terrorists in Southern Syria

TEHRAN (FNA)- The ISIL-linked group, Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade, captured several towns and key areas from other terrorist groups inside the Dara’a province, battlefield sources said on Wednesday.

ISIL captured Tasil (Taseel) from rival groups, while the group also managed to inflict casualties on the al-Nusra group including its leader, “Abu Adham”.

In a significant development, the ISIL-affiliated group also entered the rebel-held towns of Tafas and Muzayrib today as the rebel line of defence seems to have collapsed.

Due to ongoing clashes, these towns remain contested as fighters on both sides continue to battle it out.

Also, some 100 ISIL fighters have entrenched themselves inside the isolated Northern districts of the town of Inkhil, Northern Daraa province.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Army units along with the National Defence Forces (NDF) of Daraa watch all these events from afar without suffering a single casualty.

Despite temporary passiveness, government troops have captured Al-Naymah and Itman suburbs in Daraa city along with the strategic city of Sheikh Miskeen, all within the past two months.

Also, with the government troops having captured 50% the Daraa Al-Balad district in Daraa city some 40 days ago, insurgents now face losses all across the province of Daraa.

With a ceasefire settled in Geneva, skirmishes in the Daraa province have largely halted in the past 30 days, however ISIL never agreed to peace with any factions and as such, have begun this major offensive mainly against rebels of the Free Syrian Army and al-Nusra group.

Due to the majority of terrorists being deployed on the frontline with government soldiers, ISIL has been able to attack rebel forces from behind and capture several key towns with relative ease.

The Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade gained attention world-wide when the militia abducted 21 Filipino UN soldiers back in March, 2013.

At the time, their fighters were loyal to al-Nusra, however with ISIL proclaiming its caliphate in the summer of 2014, the leaders of Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade were quick to show allegiance to the ISIL.

Seven civilians injured in terrorist rocket attack in Aleppo city
23 March، 2016
Aleppo, SANA

Seven civilians were injured in a terrorist rocket attack on al-Masharqeh neighborhood in Aleppo city.

A source at Aleppo Governorate told SANA reporter that terrorists positioned in Bustan al-Qasr neighborhood fired on Tuesday night more than five rocket shells that hit locals’ houses in al-Masharqeh neighborhood, leaving seven people injured.

A fire erupted in one of the houses hit in the attack, which also caused material damage to private and public properties, the source added.

The terrorist attack is a new breach of the cessation of hostilities agreement, which took effect on 27 February, by terrorist groups in Aleppo city.

More than 27 persons have been killed and 77 others have been injured in similar breaches in Aleppo city since that date.

Reem/H. Said

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