Syria: ISIS militants capture 11 army checkpoints near Palmyra
Militant fighters of the Islamic State (ISIS) launched a new offensive against Syrian regime’s army forces in Homs province and seized control of several security checkpoints in the vicinity of Palmyra city, local sources reported on Thursday.
Subsequent to clashes, ISIS fighters captured at least 11 security checkpoints from the pro-Assad forces north of the Syrian ancient city of Palmyra, east of Homs.
“ISIS militants attacked the regime’s checkpoints with mortar fire and heavy machine guns, killing and wounding dozens of pro-regime forces in northeastern Palmyra,” media activist Amro al-Hussein told ARA News in Palmyra.
Sporadic clashes took place on Wednesday midnight before the regime troops were forced to evacuate the area, leaving behind at least 11 security checkpoints in the hands of ISIS militants, the source reported.