Syrian Army Reportedly Kicks Out Daesh From Suburbs of Qaryatayn Town

Syria's central Homs province has been a battlefield in the recent weeks with Islamic radicals repeatedly trying to recapture the areas they had lost to the government forces.

DAMASCUS (Sputnik) — The Syrian government troops supported by militias loyal to Damascus have mopped up the outskirts of Qaryatayn town located in the west of Homs province from the militants of the Daesh terrorist group, a source in militia told Sputnik on Saturday.

"The town is under full control of the Syrian army," the source said.

The town, located some 120 kilometers (74.5 miles) west of Palmyra, was liberated by the Syrian army supported by Russia's aerospace forces in spring 2016 after a six-month siege. 

READ MORE: Syrian Army Encircles Daesh in Eastern Syria's Al Mayadin

However, Daesh has taken several attempts to retake the settlement from Syrian forces. On October 1, militants attempted to storm the town, however, the attack was eventually repelled. This followed by the fierce clashes that resulted in the terrorists surrounding Qaryatayn again.

So far, the Syrian troops with the support of allied militia units regained control over the key transport juncture northeast of Qaryatayn and liberated 1,800 square kilometers (694.9 square miles) of territory in the east of the Homs province.

The bloody war has been ongoing in Syria for six years, with the numerous opposition groups and extremist organizations trying to topple the legitimate government. The international community has organized several platforms to find ways toward the reconciliation, in Geneva and Astana.