DAMASCUS - The Syrian army on Sunday fully captured a key city in the central province of Homs near the ancient city of Palmyra, following intense battles against the Islamic State (IS) group, state news agency SANA reported.
The Syrian forces backed by Russian warplanes stormed the city of Qaryatain from a number of directions, a day after Syria's boots on the ground stormed areas in the western parts of that key city.
A military source told Xinhua that the army's entry into Qaryatain came after the bomb squads dismantled explosive devices and other booby-traps the IS terrorists had planted to thwart the advance of the Syrian army.
On Saturday, the Syrian forces unleashed a wide-scale offensive on the city, which has succeeded in breaking through the IS defenses in the western part of that predominantly-Christian city.
The Russian warplanes are playing a significant role in helping retake Qaryatain, the source added.
The military campaign to reclaim Qaryatain came less than a week after the Syrian army captured Palmyra, which had been held also by the IS for 10 months.(Xinhua)