A Syrian Arab Army (SAA) officer informed Al-Masdar News on Monday evening that the so-called "Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham"  ( Daesh / ISIS / ISIL / IS ) has begun withdrawing from the western countryside of Palmyra after suffering a significant number of casualties over the last three weeks.

ISIS began withdrawing their combatants on Monday after the Syrian Arab Army inflicted heavy casualties on their forces yesterday near the T-4 Military Airport.

According to a military source at the T-4 Airport, a reconnaissance drone provided the Syrian Arab Army images regarding the Islamic State's gathering point near the T-4 Pumping Station.

Using heavy artillery, the Syrian Arab Army scored several direct hits on the Islamic State gathering points, killing more than 40 enemy combatants and destroying as many as 5 pick-up trucks and 3 armored vehicles, including 2 BMP tanks.

As a result of these losses, the Islamic State has reportedly begun withdrawing their forces to the Al-Raqqa countryside, where their combatants are currently engaged in a fierce battle with the Kurdish-led "Syrian Democratic Forces" (SDF).

In the coming days, the Syrian Arab Army will launch a massive counter-attack to recapture much of Palmyra's western countryside, forcing the Islamic State terrorists to concede much of the important gas fields.

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