The Syrian army, supported by militia groups, has started the offensive to liberate the city of Al Quaryatayn in Syria's Homs province from Daesh extremists, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported Saturday.
The Syrian army is fighting in the areas almost 3 miles away from the city. The terrorists of the Daesh group, outlawed in many countries including Russia, are said to be fighting back with the use of heavy equipment, Sputnik news reports.
According to one of the Syrian assault team commanders, some 30 terrorists have been killed. No civilians are reported to be in the city. The Syrian army's advance is hindered by mines located in the area surrounding Al Quaryatayn.
Syria has been mired in a civil war since 2011, with forces loyal to the country's President Bashar Assad fighting a number of opposition factions and extremist groups, including Daesh and the Nusra Front, which have been blacklisted as terrorist organizations by many countries, including Russia.
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