On 2 March 2017, the Syrian Army alongside Russian reinforcement, succeeded again in recapturing the beleaguered city of Palmyra.

In mid-December, ISIL launched an assault on Palmyra,[29] eventually taking full control of the city as the Syrian Army withdrew.

[35][3][36][37][38] At the start of the operation, Abu Hafs al-Mashrifi, ISIL's chief of security in Homs province, was killed in an artillery strike on his headquarters in the Huwaysis area.

[3] On 14 January, the Army captured several points around al-Tayyas village,[38][39] as well as areas near the abandoned base, advancing to the Jazal Mountains.

[43] On 19 January, the SAA stormed the southern countryside of the T-4 airbase and captured a large amount of territory near al-Qaryatayn, while also clearing several sites to the east of the pumping station and Tayfor village.

[61] On 18 February, the Army captured the Tarfah Al-Gharbiyah area and imposed full control over the Hayyan gas fields while pushing to the outskirts of Jazal Mountains.

[62] On the next day, they attacked the Jazal and al-Mahr oil fields[63] and captured several of ISIL's final positions in eastern part of Al-Bayarat.

[67][68] On 26 February, it captured the hill of Tal SyriaTel, imposing fire control over Al-Mahr gas fields.

[69] It later captured the highest point of Jabbal Hayyal, giving it fire control over the Palmyra Triangle area as well as southwestern part of the city itself.

[77][78] On the next day, ISIL launched a failed counter-attack following which SAA attacked and imposed full control over Jabal al-Tar and Palmyra Castle.

However, they left behind suicide bombers in the eastern districts of Palmyra, to cover the retreat of the ISIL militants, and to hamper the progress of the Syrian Army.