The Syrian Arab Army’s 67th Brigade of the 18th Tank Division – in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF) and Hezbollah – have quietly advanced in Palmyra’s western countryside, as their counterparts in the Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF) pound the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham’s (ISIS) positions from the air.

Recently, the Syrian Arab Army’s “Tiger Forces” and their allies from Liwaa Suqour Al-Sahra (Desert Hawks Brigade) recaptured the Jabal Jazal after ISIS terrorists launched a large-scale assault on their defensive positions at the numerous hilltops and oil/gas fields inside this mountainous region of east Homs – it took two weeks to reverse the terrorist group’s gains.

With Jabal Jazal under their control, the Syrian Armed Forces quickly crept back to the Ancient Quarries of Palmyra, where they encountered the same ISIS units that launched the offensive on their positions two weeks earlier.

Meanwhile, the SAA’s 67th Brigade has steadily advanced in west Palmyra, despite ISIS’ repeated attempts to reverse their gains at the groves of Al-Bayarat; this usually works against the terrorist group, as the Syrian Armed Forces capitalized on their failures by taking full control of Tal SyriaTel.

Tal SyriaTel is a small hilltop that is located close to Palmyra’s western gates; it was one of the last sites captured by the terrorist group before they imposed full control over this ancient city in east Homs.

While the Syrian Arab Army advances on the ground, the Syrian Air Force rules the skies above Palmyra, thanks in large part to their Russian advisors that have provided them with imperative details regarding the terrorist group’s movements.

On Monday, the Syrian Air Force struck a number of ISIS’ positions around the city of Palmyra, killing an estimated 40 enemy combatants, while destroying a half dozen armored vehicles.

The Syrian Air Force has become far more effective at this desert front due to the recent arrival of Russian military advisors that have provided the Syrian Arab Army’s Central Command with satellite imagery regarding ISIS’ movements around the country.