The offensive Palmyra offensive (2017)

situation in southern syria february 6 april 30; offensive shown @ top of map.

sometime between 12 , 13 january, syrian army launched counter-offensive. @ start of operation, abu hafs al-mashrifi, isil s chief of security in homs province, killed in artillery strike on headquarters in huwaysis area. on 14 january, army captured several points around al-tayyas village, areas near abandoned base, advancing jazal mountains. military after launched attack on mountains. advanced further on 15 january, capturing hills around airbase , jihar crossroads. isil managed repel attempt army advance around airbase on 16 january. reinforcements , supplies syrian army arrived, continuing offensive. on 19 january, saa stormed southern countryside of t-4 airbase , captured large amount of territory near al-qaryatayn, while clearing several sites east of pumping station , tayfor village. on 21 january, army recaptured jeb al-murr area, in addition advancing around hills of al-tiyas.

on 25 january, syrian army recaptured al-fawa’ra , advanced in al-fawa’ra area. on 30 january, hezbollah s media wing stated had recaptured abu tawwalah , nearby housing. on 2 february, army captured al-hattaniyyah , al-marhatan areas jihar crossroads. on 4 february, army recaptured hayyan gas fields. on 5 february, army captured majbel asphalt area, al-baydah al sharqiyah , al-baydah al-gharbiyah. isil subsequently launched counter-attack, leading heavy clashes in areas captured syrian army. on 7 february, isil recaptured hayyan gas fields. on 10 february, army recaptured hayyan hills. on 11 february, isil recaptured majbel asphalt area along several surrounding points near hajjar crossroads. including hayyan hills. on 13 february, army resumed offensive, attacking isil , attempted recapture of hayyan hills. on next day, army broke through isil s defenses , recaptured hayyan gas fields.

on 16 february, syrian army entered jihar gas fields , clashed isil fighters. isil recaptured several wells in hayyan gas fields. on same day, russian forces suffered first casualties, when vehicular column tiyas airbase homs blown remote-controlled ied, killing 4 russian soldiers , wounding 2 others, including major general pyotr milyukhin lost both legs , eye. on 17 february, army captured eastern bayarat area, coming within 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) of palmyra. captured al-kalaabiyah farms during day, reasserting complete control on western bayarat. isil counterattack on hayyan gas fields repelled. on 18 february, army captured tarfah al-gharbiyah area , imposed full control on hayyan gas fields while pushing outskirts of jazal mountains. on next day, attacked jazal , al-mahr oil fields , captured several of isil s final positions in eastern part of al-bayarat. on 20 february, reported have captured tarfah al-sharqiyah.

an isil tank near palmyra shortly before destruction cjtf–oir airstrike on 27 feb. 2017.

the saa resumed offensive on 23 february, after pausing reinforce positions @ hayyan gas fields. syrian army advanced towards driving school area of palmyra during day. on 24 february, syrian army captured palmyra communications tower in eastern bayarat area, after short battle retreating islamic state forces, , reached jabal hayyal mountain, overlooking palmyra. on 26 february, captured hill of tal syriatel, imposing fire control on al-mahr gas fields. later captured highest point of jabbal hayyal, giving fire control on palmyra triangle area southwestern part of city itself. captured quarries area northwest of city. in addition, advanced , captured quarries , points overlooking al-mahr oil fields. on next day, captured adjacent point hayyal mount. captured al-tamtheel village directly west of palmyra, reaching strategic al-tar mountain. advances brought within 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) of palmyra.

the syrian army captured palmyra triangle area, palmyra castle, qatari castle, , al-amriyah village, many hilltops including jabbal hayyal , jabbal al-tar after assault on 1 march. on same day, syrian army , allies backed warplanes, had entered modern city of palmyra , captured al-motaqadin street after captured western , northern western sections of city amid information pulling isil city. on next day, isil launched failed counter-attack following saa attacked , imposed full control on jabal al-tar , palmyra castle. isil later withdrew of palmyra, after mined many points in city. however, left behind suicide bombers in eastern districts of palmyra, cover retreat of isil militants, , hamper progress of syrian army. on 2 march, syrian army recaptured entire city of palmyra, after isil withdrew city. on next day, syrian army captured palmyra airport, , secured on 4 march, after isil forced retreat palmyra grain silos east of airport.