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Syrian forces battle to reclaim ancient Palmyra from Islamic State Syrian forces battle to reclaim ancient Palmyra from Islamic State
(about 7 hours later)
BEIRUT — Syrian troops backed by Russian air power on Thursday appeared close to storming Islamic State-held Palmyra, an ancient city whose capture by the extremist group in May shocked the world.BEIRUT — Syrian troops backed by Russian air power on Thursday appeared close to storming Islamic State-held Palmyra, an ancient city whose capture by the extremist group in May shocked the world.
Retaking the desert city would represent a significant victory for Russia’s military intervention in the conflict in support of President Bashar al-Assad, a longtime ally.Retaking the desert city would represent a significant victory for Russia’s military intervention in the conflict in support of President Bashar al-Assad, a longtime ally.
Syrian state media reported that ground forces have advanced past the outskirts of Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 150 miles northwest of the capital, Damascus. The Islamic State has destroyed several of the city’s Roman-era monuments. Syrian state media reported that ground forces have advanced past the outskirts of Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 150 miles northeast of the capital, Damascus. The Islamic State has destroyed several of the city’s Roman-era monuments.
[The ancient city facing modern scourge from Islamic State][The ancient city facing modern scourge from Islamic State]
State television said troops have battled their way inside the city, although the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said fighting is still at the edges.State television said troops have battled their way inside the city, although the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said fighting is still at the edges.
The Islamic State’s Amaq News Agency, however, released a video purporting to show quiet in Palmyra, including empty streets. The group “will deter their assault,” a fighter shown sitting on top of a tank says in the video, which was translated by the SITE Intelligence Group.The Islamic State’s Amaq News Agency, however, released a video purporting to show quiet in Palmyra, including empty streets. The group “will deter their assault,” a fighter shown sitting on top of a tank says in the video, which was translated by the SITE Intelligence Group.
Meanwhile, in apparent bid to seek common ground over recently resumed talks to end Syria’s civil war, Secretary of State John F. Kerry was expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. Discussions are set to focus on a political transition that the Obama administration has said must result in Assad’s exit from power. The Russian leader has firmly pushed back against it. Meanwhile, Secretary of State John F. Kerry met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin to discuss a political transition for Syria that the Obama administration has said must result in Assad’s exit from power. Putin has firmly pushed back against such a scenario.
In brief remarks at the Russian Foreign Ministry’s guesthouse in downtown Moscow, Kerry and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said this week’s attacks in Brussels, for which the Islamic State has asserted responsibility, have “underscored the urgency” of defeating the group. “We agreed on a time schedule to establish a framework for a political transition and also a draft constitution, all of which we target by August,” Kerry said at a news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
They also praised a mutually backed cease-fire agreement that took hold in Syria on Feb 27. That truce excludes the Islamic State and has held together, despite numerous violations reported by each side, helping to reduce violence in a war that has killed more than 250,000 people and uprooted millions. Earlier in the day, Kerry and Lavrov praised a mutually backed cease-fire agreement that took hold in Syria on Feb. 27. That truce excludes the Islamic State and has held despite numerous violations reported by each side, helping to reduce violence in a war that has killed more than 250,000 people and uprooted millions.
The truce also has paved the way for the peace talks in Geneva, which started this month. This round of indirect negotiations is expected to end Thursday, with another tentatively scheduled for early next month. The government and opposition delegations, however, remain bitterly divided on several points, including the fate of Assad. Putin thanked Kerry and President Obama for their support in achieving progress in finding a resolution to the conflict in Syria.
The two sides have separately presented basic principles of a potential agreement to Staffan de Mistura, the U.N. envoy to Syria and mediator of the talks.Basma Kodmani, a member of the opposition High Negotiations Committee, said Thursday that de Mistura has in turn produced a “constructive” road map that is likely to pave the way for the continuation of negotiations scheduled for next month, the Reuters news agency reported. In Geneva, U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura concluded nearly two weeks of what he described as “very serious” discussions with the Syrian government and opposition representatives over the “principles” that will guide the political transition that he said would be the topic of talks scheduled to resume early next month.
“Out of these two weeks we come out with feeling that we have perhaps laid the basis for substantive talks in the next round,” Kodmani was quoted as saying. De Mistura presented both sides with a 12-point document of what he called “points of commonalities” between them. They included Syrian territorial integrity within its current borders as a democratic and non-sectarian state, equal rights for women, the return to their homes of all displaced people, the release of those “arbitrarily” detained, and continuity of state institutions, including the Syrian military.
The Syrian government said it would study the document. An opposition representative in Geneva told reporters that the discussions “have perhaps laid the basis for substantive talks at the next round . . . that will lead us directly into discussions about the political transition.”
So far, the two sides have spoken only in “proximity,” gathering in separate rooms while de Mistura and his team shuttle between them.
Although de Mistura acknowledged that the talks had not moved into substance — including Assad’s future — he indicated that their lasting this long without collapsing should be considered progress, along with the continuation of the now four-week-old cease-fire and delivery of humanitarian aid. “There have been no breakdowns, no walkouts, no personal delegitimization,” de Mistura told reporters.
“What I would tell the Syrian people is, you’re right in having doubts. You have been waiting five years, you have been disappointed so many times, you have been suffering much more than anyone could expect from any people,” he said.
“But please, look at the facts. Would you ever have dreamed just five months ago that countries like the United States and Russia would actually seriously sit and engage in serious talks” about Syria?
In Palmyra, pro-government forces have faced tough resistance from Islamic State fighters. As many as 40 militants and nine soldiers have been killed during clashes in the area in the past 24 hours, the Observatory said.In Palmyra, pro-government forces have faced tough resistance from Islamic State fighters. As many as 40 militants and nine soldiers have been killed during clashes in the area in the past 24 hours, the Observatory said.
The official Syrian Arab News Agency published pictures of soldiers flashing peace signs as they purportedly prepared to battle over the city.The official Syrian Arab News Agency published pictures of soldiers flashing peace signs as they purportedly prepared to battle over the city.
Palmyra’s recapture would help Russia bolster its stated narrative of intervening in Syria to fight the Islamic State. The United States and Syrian rebels groups say that Moscow’s air raids have targeted mostly anti-Assad groups other than the Islamic State.Palmyra’s recapture would help Russia bolster its stated narrative of intervening in Syria to fight the Islamic State. The United States and Syrian rebels groups say that Moscow’s air raids have targeted mostly anti-Assad groups other than the Islamic State.
Despite Putin’s decision this month to draw down his forces in Syria, a number of Russian warplanes have remained and continue to carry out raids. Since September, Russian has conducted a blistering number of airstrikes in Syria, inflicting heavy damage on rebel forces.Despite Putin’s decision this month to draw down his forces in Syria, a number of Russian warplanes have remained and continue to carry out raids. Since September, Russian has conducted a blistering number of airstrikes in Syria, inflicting heavy damage on rebel forces.
Capturing Palmyra may have longer-term benefits for Syria’s government. Controlling the area would bring Assad’s forces closer to retaking oil infrastructure in the country’s east that is controlled by the Islamic State.Capturing Palmyra may have longer-term benefits for Syria’s government. Controlling the area would bring Assad’s forces closer to retaking oil infrastructure in the country’s east that is controlled by the Islamic State.
But fighting in Palmyra would threaten to inflict yet more damage to the city’s cherished, 2,000-year-old ruins. Many already have been blown up by the militant group, including the 1st-century Temple of Bel.But fighting in Palmyra would threaten to inflict yet more damage to the city’s cherished, 2,000-year-old ruins. Many already have been blown up by the militant group, including the 1st-century Temple of Bel.
In August, the group beheaded the city’s former chief of antiquities and hanged his body from a Roman column.In August, the group beheaded the city’s former chief of antiquities and hanged his body from a Roman column.
The group regularly targets pre-Islamic artifacts and other symbols of multiculturalism.The group regularly targets pre-Islamic artifacts and other symbols of multiculturalism.
Andrew Roth in Moscow contributed to this report. Andrew Roth in Moscow and Karen DeYoung in Washington contributed to this report.
Read more:Read more:
Palmyra’s Temple of Bel withstood 2,000 years of war and invasions — until the Islamic StatePalmyra’s Temple of Bel withstood 2,000 years of war and invasions — until the Islamic State
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