Syrian Army Advances West of ISIL-Controlled Palmyra

Syria's army advanced this weekend west of the ancient city of Palmyra, reopening a key supply route for oil and gas to the capital, a newspaper and monitoring group said Monday.

"The infantry has made tangible progress in the area of west Biyarat," said the Al-Watan Syrian daily.

It said the army had "intensified" its operations against the ISIL/ISIS group in Palmyra and the surrounding area.

"This weekend, the regime ousted ISIL terrorists from al-Biyarat and is now about 10 kilometers (six miles) from Palmyra," said the opposing UK-based Syrian Observatory.

Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said the capture of the area "allows the regime to secure a transport route for oil from the Jazal field... to other Syrian cities under its control."

The Syrian army recaptured Jazal, which lies about 20 kilometers northwest of Palmyra, from ISIL terrorists last week.

It is one of the few Syrian oil fields that are controlled by the government.

Army reinforcements were dispatched to Biyarat as air raids rained down on the terrorists in the city, the Observatory said, adding that at least 11 people were killed on Sunday.

ISIL overran Palmyra on May 21 amid global fears that it would destroy the UNESCO world heritage site's renowned ruins, much like it did to archeological sites in Iraq.

On Sunday, the terrorist group laid mines around the city's well-preserved Greco-Roman ruins, the Observatory said.

Units of the Syrian army and armed forces also carried out on Monday direct blows to the terrorist organizations’ positions in many areas across the country, inflicting heavy losses upon them in personnel and equipment.
 almanar.com.lb
22/6/15
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Related:

• Syrian army advances in ISIS-held Palmyra...

• Islamic State of Iraq and the Leavnt (ISIL) militants have laid landmines and explosives at the site of the ancient ruins in Syria’s Palmyra, a monitor said June 21, adding the purpose of the move was unclear.

The head of Syria’s antiquities department, reached by phone in Damascus, said he had also received reports from Palmyra residents that mines were laid at the site.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of sources on the ground, said explosives were laid at the ruins in the town in central Homs province on June 20.

“But it is not known if the purpose is to blow up the ruins or to prevent regime forces from advancing into the town,” said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman.

He said regime forces had launched heavy air strikes against the residential part of Palmyra in the past three days, killing at least 11 people.

“The regime forces are to the west outside the city, and in recent days they have brought in reinforcements suggesting they may be planning an operation to retake Palmyra,” he added.............. http://www.ethnologia.gr/2015/06/isilisis-lays-mines-in-ruins-of-syrias.html

21/6/15