The Syrian Arab Army’s 18th Tank Battalion – in coordination with Liwaa Suqour Al-Sahra (Desert Falcons Brigade) and the National Defense Forces (NDF) – has forced the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) to withdrawal from the western and southern flanks of the ancient city of Palmyra in the eastern part of the Homs Governorate after fierce clashes on Sunday.

The Syrian Armed Forces was able to recapture all of Mount Qassoun to the east of the city, along with the Radio and Television Broadcast Tower, the Ancient Palmyra Aqueducts, and the Palmyra Dam; this forced the militants from ISIS to retreat to the northern flank, where the SAA’s 18th Tank Battalion began their assault on Sunday morning.

As dawn approached on Sunday, the SAA’s 18th Battalion and Liwaa Suqour Al-Sahra stormed the Desert Development building at the northern sector of Palmyra, resulting in the death of 26 enemy combatants from ISIS and the confiscation of their heavy weaponry before they began their complete withdrawal from this building and the residential neighborhoods.

With the Desert Development building under the Syrian Armed Forces control, the latter launched a counter-assault on Al-Amuriyah located north of Palmyra, where they successfully infiltrated through ISIS’ frontline defenses at the southern perimeter of the Officer’s Barracks; this resulted in the Syrian Armed Forces staking their positions at the southern flank – fighting is still ongoing.

ISIS has switched their focus to the T-3 Pumping Station and the Al-Hayl Gas Field, taking control of these sites located 20km east of the ancient city of Palmyra; however, the Syrian Armed Forces have mounted a counter-assault – in conjunction with the Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF) – to recapture these sites in the vast deserts of east Homs.

According to a military source in Jabal Al-Sha’ar, the Syrian Armed Forces have complete control of Palmyra, including all of the points around the city.

Photos from the battlefield today: