One week after their initial offensive at the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) has launched another large-scale attack on the Palmyra National Hospital and the village of Al-‘Amuriyah, attempting to infiltrate the Syrian Arab Army’s frontline defenses – once again – after these areas were secured by the latter three days ago.
The militants from ISIS began their assault on the SAA’s 18th Battalion at Al-‘Amuriyah, where they were able to successfully infiltrate past the latter’s defenses after a series of fierce clashes around the northern perimeter of the village on Wednesday morning; this village was originally secured two days ago, when the Syrian Armed Forces successfully pushed the ISIS fighters out.
With ISIS militants inside of Al-‘Amuriyah, another contingent from ISIS stormed the western perimeter of the Palmyra National Hospital on Wednesday morning; however, a field source from eastern Homs has reported that the militant assault on the SAA’s positions at this large medical facility has been repelled, thanks to the aerial bombardments from the Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF).
Firefights are still ongoing between the SAA’s 18th Tank Battalion and ISIS at the village of Al-‘Amuriyah, but the powerful airstrikes from the Syrian Arab Air Force has deterred the militant reinforcements from advancing towards the ancient city of Palmyra, as the National Defense Forces (NDF) hurry to the frontline to drive back the enemy combatants.
In addition to their airstrikes at Al-‘Amuriyah and the Palmyra National Hospital, the SAAF has conducted numerous airstrikes over the towns of Al-Sikhanah and Arak since dawn on Wednesday morning, targeting ISIS’ large variety of armored vehicles that are used to attack the Syrian Armed Forces at this front in the eastern part of the Homs Governorate.
As of 6:30 A.M. Damascus Time, the ancient city of Palmyra is fully under the control of the Syrian Armed Forces; however, there is still a looming threat at the northern flank, as ISIS still has a presence in the northern perimeter of Al-‘Amuriyah.
