The Syrian Army Army’s 67th Brigade of the 18th Tank Brigade – in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF) – have imposed full-control over the town of Al-Meshtal in the western countryside of Palmyra after fierce clashes with the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham on Wednesday night.

In addition to their success at Al-Meshtal, the SAA’s 67th Brigade and the National Defense Forces captured Qasr Al-Hayr, killing over 20 enemy combatants from ISIS, while also seizing their heavy weaponry from inside the castle’s parameters.

Qasr Al-Hayr and Al-Meshtal are both located in southwestern Palmyra; this confirms the Syrian Armed Forces military strategy of flanking the terrorist group inside the ancient city from the southern and northern perimeters, leaving only one withdrawal point to the east of the city for the enemy combatants of ISIS.

If ISIS is unable to forestall the Syrian Armed Forces’ progress in the Palmyra countryside, they will be under siege inside this east Homs city in the coming days.

However, the only thing that may halt the Syrian Armed Forces from imposing this full siege on the city is the possibility that the terrorist group might destroy the historical landmarks and archaeological sites before their withdrawal; this would be their reprisal for the SAA’s attack.