Pro-Syria forces achieve new gains in central Homs despite local ISIS counter-attack

BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:35 A.M.) – The drive of pro-government forces in central Homs continues with new gains made and despite a ISIS counter-attack yesterday which pushed troops of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) off the al-Mashirfah hill near the strategic crossroad town of Jubb al-Jarrah.

Today the SAA and other allied forces operating under the cover of Russian attack helicopters carried out a fresh offensive stroke that resulted in the capture of a string of hills north of the village of Jubb Hamad, the settlement itself only just being liberated two days ago.

These hilltops north of Jubb Hamad have strategic value attached to them insofar as they overlook the ISIS-held town of Al-Baghiliyah.

Now pro-government forces have fire control over Al-Baghiliyah and with this achieved, it is predicted that the town should soon be abandoned by ISIS to the SAA due to the impracticality of its defense under such conditions.

At the present time there is little information available on manpower losses suffered by ISIS as a result of today’s operation, however pro-government sources say that at least two Toyota pickups fitted with 23 mm ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns were destroyed with anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) in the area the assault took place.