The Syrian Arab Army’s 67th Brigade of the 18th Tank Division – in coordination with the Tiger Forces and Liwaa Suqour Al-Sahra (Desert Hawks) – have continued their successful offensive in the western countryside of Palmyra, capturing an imperative village on the outskirts of this ancient city.

Following their swift capture of the Al-Qadri Farms, Palmyra Driving School, and Al-Dawat Hill, the Syrian Armed Forces began to target the imperative village of Muqassem on the outskirts of Palmyra; this proved to be a wise option, as the Syrian Armed Forces took control of the village after a series of firefights on Friday morning.

According to a military source in the Homs Governorate, the Syrian Armed Forces are currently less than 5 kilometers away from the city of Palmyra; should the latter recapture the Qassoun Mountains from the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) at the western flank of the city, means that the Syrian Armed Forces will have the upper ground during the battle for Palmyra.

Of course, the militants of ISIS do not plan on going down without a fight – the terrorist group is entrenched around the city’s perimeter, where they anticipate a full-scale assault from the Syrian Armed Forces.