The source underlined the importance of Khneifis in Eastern Homs, saying the region links Homs, Eastern Damascus, Deir Ezzur Badiyeh (desert) and al-Tanf to each other.

The source further added that with their control over Khneifis the army men can enter al-Tanf border-crossing that has been under terrorists’ occupation for almost two years.

In the meantime, the army’s eye-catching advances in Eastern Homs in recent days have connected government-controlled regions in Palmyra and Southern Homs to Damascus province, restoring sustainable security to al-Seen airbase in Northeastern Damascus, and the oil and gas fields and Phosphate mines in Homs.

Reports said on Saturday that the army troops continued to hit ISIL’s defense lines hard South-West of the ancient city of Palmyra (Tadmur), taking back control over more territories.

The Syrian soldiers continued their advances against ISIL in the Southern direction of the village of Khneifis and South-East of the village of al-Basiri 46km to the East of Homs city and took control over the village and region of al-Alyaniyeh.

A military source reported, meantime, that tens of ISIL terrorists were killed and their military equipment and arms were destroyed in the attack.