Syrian army troops and their local allies have been developing an advance against ISIS terrorists in the area north of the Homs-Palmyra highway.
On March 28, clashes between the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and ISIS units were reported near Mahr fields, Jahar, the Jidma Mount and the Abyadh Mountain. On March 27, government forces captured the Marbat Antar Mountain, the Dhalil mountain and the Hid Mountain north and northwest of Palmyra.
The recent anti-ISIS operations in the area show that the SAA and its allies are aiming to expand a buffer zone north of the Homs-Palmyra highway.
If government forces continue their advance in the northern direction, they will be able to secure a large chunk of area linking the Palmyra countryside and the Salamiyah countryside and to recapture a number of gas and oil fields from ISIS.
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