The Syrian army has thwarted terrorists’ attempt to counterattack near Palmyra as it continues its offensive south and east of the western province of Homs, the Syrian army spokesman told reporters.

“The Syrian armed forces are advancing on the enemy south and east of Homs and have inflicted heavy losses on terrorists who tried and failed to counterattack north of the city of Attamsi, and southeast of Yul-Sahri near Palmyra, Sputnik News reports.

Many ISIL terrorists were killed and a number of their machine gun trucks were destroyed,” Brigadier General Ali Mayhoub said at a news briefing in Latakia.

The Syrian armed forces have destroyed a number of terrorist strongholds at Harasta outside Damascus seizing large amounts of weapons and ammunition and defusing hundreds of landmines, planted by the terrorists.

“We have destroyed a terrorist unit in Deraa, in the south, liberated a local refugee camp and taken out a terrorist unit southeast of the local energy company headquarters. Several columns of enemy trucks have also been destroyed near Deraa,” the general added.

The ancient Syrian city of Palmyra is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Islamic State jihadist group militants have destroyed multiple sites of historic architecture in Palmyra, including its ancient temples of Bel and Baalshamin, since they had captured the city in May.