"The Syrian army, Liwa Suqour al-Sahra (Desert Hawks Brigade), and NDF have reached Jabal Qassoun in Western Palmyra (Tadmur) after a violent battle with the ISIL overnight," the sources said.

"The pro-government forces reached to Jabal Qassoun in Western Palmyra after imposing full control over the Ancient Palmyra Quarries," the sources added.

"Currently, the Syrian Armed Forces are combating the ISIL terrorists that are entrenched at the Palmyra Castle, which is located atop of Jabal Qassoun; if captured, they will have captured the highest point in the Palmyra countryside," they went on to say.

Jabal Qassoun is the last mountain before reaching the Western gates of Palmyra’s Old District; it is less than 1.5 km away from the Palmyra National Hospital.

Reports said earlier today that over 60 combatants of the ISIL were killed and many more were wounded after a column of the terrorists found themselves in an ambush operation of the government forces Southeast of Homs province.

The ISIL trapped terrorists in the Triangle of Palmyra (Tadmur) were heavily hit by the Syrian army and the National Defense Forces.

The ISIL suffered a heavy death toll of over 60 killed members.

The Syrian army's artillery units, for their part, shelled the ISIL positions in the Palmyra Triangle.

The Syria army troops and the NDF advanced significantly against the ISIL in the surrounding of Tadmur and in the Quaryatayn hills; FNA reported.

218/12