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On March 1, Syrian government forces made significant gains against ISIS terrorists in the area of Palmyra, seizing the Palmyra Triangle, Qatari Villa, Aqueduct, and a number of hills: Jabal Muhtar, Jabal Qassoun and Jabal al-Asafir.
Government troops also engaged ISIS units in the Palmyra Castle and allegedly got control of it. However, there is no visual confirmation with government troops inside this site. The situation remains unclear.
The rapid advances of the Syrian army and its allies were actively backed by the Russian Aerospace Forces.
If the operation continues with the same speed, Palmyra will be soon liberated from the ISIS terrorist group.
A view at the Palmyra Castle:
A Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter during the operation at Palmyra:
So we’re back where we were almost exactly a year ago. Well, at least on this particular front. Let’s hope there’s no need for a third time to be the charm.
Of course they’ll fail again, ISIS have been reduced on every other front, so they’ve got more men available to defend here. They’ll cut through this thin salient, yet again, with the shored up manpower, allowing the SAA think they’ve got the upper hand, AGAIN.
Nah, ISIS is currently getting rekt on all fronts now that they have the full attention of every other faction. If any part of Syria is getting reinforced it’d be Raqqa, not worthless Palmyra.
Except that they don’t have the attention of every other faction; the Turks are attacking the Kurds, and the SAA are cautiously looking to see what play to make. So ISIS are totally free to attack Palmyra again.
The area around Palmyra has plenty of gas/oil fields, hardly worthless. Plus orchards, so grapes too.
Now that Aleppo is taken care of and the situation in Damascus is very much improved, there is less manpower shortage for the Assad forces.
Palmyra castle is captured, there is video evidence, maybe ISIL is fleeing and preparing for new counter attack, SAA must be careful and they must not stop after Palmyra, it will be good if they capture 9 road
All indications on the speed of advance is that ISIS have collapsed and moved elsewhere. And I mean out of Syria. What is left is the non-important soldiers who are expendable and will soon be expended.
They’ll be off to Raqqa, if they’re smart. Maybe Der Eizzor too.
Thats what i think, Raqqa is big city and its more important than desert, also SAA must be careful in Deir er zor, maybe they will try again to attack Deir er zor
“Out of Syria”? Where to? Libya? Egypt? Back home, wherever that is? I am interested in your thoughts. I think they’ve gone to Raqqa or Tabqah.
‘Expendable’ sounds like a very good plan, actually :)
AGGRESSIVE DESERT WAR BREAKING THROUGH THE LINES SLAUGHTER CARVED INTO YOUR EVIL RITES
ISIS will not survive for long for sure.
I think ISIS is stripping its troops from parts of the fronts (Eastern Aleppo, Deir Ezzor and Palmyra. This is being done to re-enforce Ar Raqqa for the inevitable assault that we all know is coming. Further compounding ISIS problems are, those areas of the fronts where they (ISIS) are removing troops to re-enforce Ar Raqqa, they were already getting their ass kicked by SAA, YPG and Russian Aerospace forces.
The front has finally collapsed. This time, they have to reach Deir Ezzor, from this front and keep up the pressure in Eastern Aleppo heading south.