Over the last 72 hours, the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) has proven to be ill-prepared for the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) latest offensive at the ancient city of Palmyra in the Homs Governorate’s eastern countryside.

This news was confirmed when an ISIS contingent frantically retreated from the Al-Qadri Farms in western Palmyra after a brief firefight with the Syrian Arab Army’s 550th Regiment and the 67th Brigade of the 18th Tank Division.

On Tuesday morning, the Syrian Arab Army’s 67th Brigade – in coordination with the 550th Regiment, the National Defense Forces (NDF) of Homs, Hezbollah, and Harakat Al-Nujaba (Iraqi paramilitary) – struck ISIS’ defensive positions at Al-Hayyal in southern Palmyra, killing several enemy combatants from the aforementioned terrorist group before advancing towards the southern district of this ancient city.

In addition to their advance at Al-Hayyal, the Syrian Armed Forces and their allies captured more territory along the Homs-Deir Ezzor Highway that leads to Palmyra’s western perimeter; this has paved the way for them to push towards the Qatari Royal Family’s villa that is now used by ISIS as training base for their new recruits.

With their recent success at the southern and western flanks of Palmyra, the Syrian Armed Forces are now in position to attack this ancient desert city from three different sides, while the Russian Air Force strikes the Palmyra Military Airport and the road leading to the east district.