Amid subsiding activity in Syria | Russian forces partially withdraw from east Homs desert

Reliable SOHR sources have reported a partial withdrawal by Russian forces from the archaeological area of Palmyra in the eastern countryside of Homs. According to SOHR sources, several Russian military vehicles withdrew in the past few hours from the position where Russian forces gather in the “square of the horse racetrack,” near Palmyra fortress east of Homs. Also, several vehicles withdrew from Mahin area in Homs desert. The withdrawn vehicles headed to the centre of Homs province, and they are believed to head to Hmeimim base in Latakia province. This coincides with the subsiding Russian activity in Syria over Russian forces’ preoccupation with the war in Ukraine.

On May 4, reliable SOHR sources in Palmyra city in the eastern countryside of Homs, which is controlled by Iranian and regime-backed militia, reported that a fight erupted between an armed group of the Russian-backed 5th Corps and another armed group of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The clashes took place for unknown reasons near Al-Dar Al-Hamraa checkpoint at the southern entrance of Palmyra city, which left several members on both sides injured, amid unconfirmed reports of fatalities. Meanwhile, the intelligence branch in the desert interfered to break up the fight.