Syrian forces liberates five towns in Homs province

Syrian government troops, backed by fighters from allied popular defense groups, have liberated more areas from Daesh terrorists in the country’s central province of Homs, a day after the Russian military announced that government troops were in control of 85 percent of the whole Syrian territory.

According to Syria’s official SANA news agency on Wednesday, the Syrian forces managed to establish control over Zagroutiyeh, Darwishiyeh, Luwaibdeh, Ghuniman, and Umm Sagh, in the eastern parts of Homs earlier in the day.

The report, citing unnamed military sources, added that some 70 square kilometers had been liberated in the operation.

Army units, in cooperation with the allied fighters, also eliminated scores of Daesh militants and destroyed their weapons and equipment, including armored vehicles, they further said.

During the operation, engineering units dismantled landmines and explosive devices planted by Daesh terrorists along the roads and squares of the recaptured towns, the sources said, adding that the troops also restored control over Unk al-Hawa, Um al-Tababin and al-Khan villages.

On Tuesday, Lieutenant General Aleksandr Lapin, the Russian chief of staff in Syria, announced Damascus was in control of 85 percent of the Arab country’s territories. He added that Syrian forces must now purge terrorists from the remaining 15 percent of the country, which amounts to 27,000 square kilometers.

Last week, Syrian government forces, backed up by Russia airstrikes, reached Dayr al-Zawr on the Euphrates River, breaking a three-year-long terrorist siege on the city and a nearby air base.

SS