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ISIS bombs T4 airbase, cuts off Syrian army’s main supply route in Homs
[ARA News] HOMS ــ Militant fighters of the Islamic State (ISIS) on Wednesday pounded the regime’s T4 airbase in eastern Homs, central Syria, with heavy artillery shells and rockets, local sources reported.However, the pro-regime army responded to the group’s bombardment with a number of air raids in the areas of al-Shaer and Hwesis. In the meantime, Russian warplanes conducted several airstrikes on an ISIS-held military camp near T4 airbase in addition to the areas of Khinefis and the vicinity of Sukhna town to the north of Palmyra city in Homs province. On Tuesday, ISIS was able to progress towards the highway of Homs–Palmyra, one of the major supply routes for the regime’s army forces stationed inside the city of Homs. On Wednesday, the militant group was able to cut off the regime’s supply lines entirely after taking over key areas near the highway. Speaking to ARA News in Homs, media activist Tawfiq al-Qadi said: “After taking over a military camp near T4 airbase on Tuesday, ISIS has been focusing on the Homs–Palmyra highway, the only land supply route for the regime’s army forces.” Al-Qadi pointed out that ISIS has infiltrated into the nearby hills of the highway in order to place bunkers on the road as well as installing heavy machine guns, rocket launchers and anti-tank guns [caliber 57] in the controlled areas. The hardline group has earlier taken over two checkpoints for the regime’s defense line near the T4 airbase, after the withdrawal of pro-regime forces towards the airport, military sources told ARA News. Also, ISIS has downed a pro-regime helicopter in Hwesis area to the west of the city of Palmyra after hitting it with a ground-to-air missile. Posted by: badanov 2016-05-12 |
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