The advance towards Al-Qaryatayn started on 3 March 2016, when the military seized several hilltops on the northern perimeter of the Jabal Al-Mahsaa mountain chain.

[20] On 2 April, the Russian Air Force began using attack helicopters to weaken ISIL defenses in the town.

The Syrian Army in coordination with the National Defence Forces and SSNP fighters[21] then entered the town with artillery support, taking control of two mountaintops and an orchard in the northwestern outskirts.

[10] Amid a collapse of ISIL' forces against the SAA thrust towards Deir Ezzor, on 29 September 2017 ISIL launched simultaneous counteroffensives against the small towns of As Sukhnah, Bi'r Ghabaghib, and Bayt al Juhayshal to disrupt SAA logistics within the Deir Ezzor governate.

The Palmyra Coordination Committee reported that 67 bodies, many summarily killed by ISIL, were found in the town.