The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Violent and large-attack by the “Islamic State” in Palmyra on sites of the regime forces and on ancient Palace causes tens of casualties and injuries

Violent clash continued since the dawn of Thursday the 8th of December 2016, between members of the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them against members of the “Islamic State”, accompanied by heavy and intense shelling and exchange of targeting and explosions that rocked Palmyra area located in the eastern desert of Homs.

The “Islamic State” is carrying out since the dawn of today simultaneous and successive attacks in the vicinity Jazl, al-Mohr and Shaer fields of oil and gas, and the areas of Hwisis and Arak, Palmyra Silos, al-Hayyal Mount, al-Sekkary area, the ancient Palace of al-Hallabat, the abandoned battalion near T4 airbase, and by doing so the organization was able to achieve more advancement and control Hwisis area near Jeb al-Jarrah, and regain control of al-Hallabat Palace and large parts of al-Hayyal Mount, and getting closer to Palmyra city and al-Qatari Palace, where the organization in now separated by several kilometers southwest of the city. The violent attacks were accompanied with explosions and heavy shelling, which killed more members and officers of the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them, rising to at least 34, including 8 officers and lieutenants, the death toll of the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them who were killed in clash today in Palmyra area, also 3 members and officers of the regime forces were captured by the organization, and confirmed information about casualties and injuries in the ranks of the organization’s members, while warplanes began targeting the vicinity of Palmyra city and its outskirts, in an attempt to prevent the organization’s fighters from reaching the city which the regime forces restored a few months ago, after a large-scale military operation with the participation of Russian forces and air cover by the Russian and Syrian warplanes and the Syrian helicopters.