Liwa al-Quds, pro-regime militia fighting the Islamic State in the Syrian desert, has mourned 17 militants killed in clashes with the radical group northeast of ancient city of Palmyra, according to statement posted on Tuesday.
The Iran-backed militia said its fighters, mostly Palestinians, had played key role in the Syrian army advances in the last few weeks that enables the regiem for the first time to reach the border with Iraq and to take ground in Deir Ezzor and Raqqa provinces.
Also in Palmyra, the commander of regime army in the Syrian desert was killed on Sunday by the ISIS as heavy clashes still taking place despite Eid al-Fiter, First Muslim Eid holiday, regime news feeds said.
M.General Fuad Khaddour killed in al-Arak area near Palmyra desert, also known as al-Badiya, 26 miles, 40 km east of Homs city, according to pro-regime media.
Al-Badiya extends over 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 square miles) from central Syria to the borders with Iraq and Jordan to the east and southeast.
Much of the al-Badiya has been held by ISIS, but Syria's army has been chipping away at it for months
