North of Homs witnesses renewed clashes and fighting continues in Palmyra Desert

Homs Province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: clashes broke out last night between the regime forces and their allied militiamen on one hand and the rebel and Islamic factions on the other in Ghernata area in the northern countryside of Homs. Casualties were reported at both sides. Violent clashes also continue between the regime forces and their allied militiamen on one hand and ISIS on the other in an area on Palmyra-Sukhnah road in the eastern countryside of Homs. Clashes were accompanied by airstrikes by warplanes and helicopters on areas of clashes. The SOHR published yesterday that the violent clashes were concentrated in the last 48 hours in the deserts of al-Sukhnah and Palmyra and in the eastern countryside of Hama and near the administrative borders of Deir Ezzor and Homs. Clashes were accompanied by an exchange of heavy shelling between both parties and bombardments by warplanes. The most violent clashes were concentrated in areas in the countryside of Salamiyah city, and other areas near the Syrian-Iraqi border. The bombings, exchange of shelling and the clashes between both parties caused more casualties at both sides. The number of fatalities among the members of the regime forces and their allied militiamen, of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, who were killed in the last 48 hours in the shelling and the clashes in areas in the desert of Palmyra, the administrative border of Homs – Deir Ezzor, and the eastern countryside of Hama, rose to 40 at least, including at least 3 officers, 2 of them are Brigadiers-General. On the other hand, the number of fatalities among ISIS members, who were killed in the shelling and clashes that took place in these areas during the same period, rose to at least 29.