Syrian troopers have reportedly killed at least 30 ISIL (also known as Daesh) militants during battles in the area surrounding Syria’s ancient city of Palmyra.

The clashes raged in the vicinity of the millennia-old oasis city as Syrian government forces continued with a major counter-offensive aimed at liberating Palmyra from the militants, who overran the city back in May, the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said on Saturday.

The UK-based group further said that 12 Syrian troopers were also killed during the recent fighting near the ancient city but did not mention how it had obtained the casualty figures on the government’s side.

The development came as other media reports from the region also confirmed earlier in the week that Syrian forces had launched a new offensive to flush out the ISIL militants from Palmyra, located in the eastern countryside of the country’s Homs Province.

Press reports from the area further indicated that the military operations by the Syrian troops are due to continue until the recapture of the entire city, and that the government forces are advancing toward Palmyra from three directions.

Meanwhile, Syria’s state news agency SANA also reported earlier this week than government forces have already liberated several areas west of Palmyra such as Nazl Hayyal, the al-Qadiri farm and Thaniet al-Rajma.

[This story has been modified from the original source material.]