Categories: Source-WIN World News

Islamic State ousted from ancient Syrian city of Palmyra

Despite driving Islamic State fighters out of the ancient city of Palmyra, the Syrian army still lacks control of the city’s eastern areas. 

Russian-backed Syrian troops drove out Islamic State (IS) fighters from the ancient city of Palmyra, located in eastern Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

“IS withdrew from most of Palmyra after laying mines across the city,” the organization’s head Rami Abdel-Rahman told AFP. “There are no IS fighters left in most of the Old City, but it is heavily mined.”

Despite making advances in the city, the Syrian army does not control eastern Palmyra.

“Government forces have not yet been able to enter the heart of the city or the eastern parts,” Abdel-Rahman added. “There are still suicide bombers left in the eastern neighborhoods.”

IS forces took control of the city in May of 2015 and destroyed a number of its ancient ruins. Nine months after losing the city to Russian-backed Syrian forces in March of 2016, ISIS retook the city in December during the height of the battle over Aleppo.

By: Jonathan Benedek, World Israel News

Share
Published by
Jonathan Benedek
Tags: Islamic State Palmyra

Recent Posts

  • Israel News

Ultra-Orthodox rabbis demand draft exemption pledges from all 48 Eisenkot bloc lawmakers

Proposed coalition would also need Shas support, despite its endorsement of Netanyahu.

22 hours ago
  • World News

IAEA unable to verify Iran’s uranium stockpile after losing access to nuclear sites

The agency last estimated Iran held over 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity.

23 hours ago
  • World News

A new crop of Democrats is coming to the Senate to challenge Schumer

59% of Democratic voters said they want 'someone else' to lead Senate Democrats versus 22%…

1 day ago
  • Israel News

100-year-old British unexploded ordnance found in Binyamin region after rainfall

Yisrael Ganz, who chairs the Yesha Council umbrella group, thanked the Binyamin Regional Council’s security…

1 day ago
  • Videos

WATCH: Israeli tech company turns civilian vehicles into battlefield robots

Before Oct. 7, Israeli tech company MIA Dynamics built civilian electric four-wheelers, then transformed its…

1 day ago
  • Middle East

Iran races to rebuild missile arsenal as Trump signals US unlikely to resume strikes

According to a report released last month by the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI), new…

1 day ago