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| Palmyra: Syria forces 'enter Islamic State-held city' | Palmyra: Syria forces 'enter Islamic State-held city' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Syrian government forces have advanced into Palmyra on several fronts backed by air strikes and artillery, a monitoring group has said. | Syrian government forces have advanced into Palmyra on several fronts backed by air strikes and artillery, a monitoring group has said. |
| The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighting was the most intense yet seen in the army's campaign to recapture the city from so-called Islamic State (IS). | The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighting was the most intense yet seen in the army's campaign to recapture the city from so-called Islamic State (IS). |
| IS seized the Unesco World Heritage site and adjoining modern town in May. | IS seized the Unesco World Heritage site and adjoining modern town in May. |
| It destroyed archaeological sites, drawing global outrage. | It destroyed archaeological sites, drawing global outrage. |
| Two 2,000-year-old temples, an arch and funerary towers were left in ruins. | Two 2,000-year-old temples, an arch and funerary towers were left in ruins. |
| Government forces had taken neighbourhoods in the western and northern parts of the city, the observatory said. | Government forces had taken neighbourhoods in the western and northern parts of the city, the observatory said. |
| Syrian state media said earlier the army had taken full control of the al-Amiriya district on Palmyra's northern edge. | Syrian state media said earlier the army had taken full control of the al-Amiriya district on Palmyra's northern edge. |
| TV footage showed repeated explosions and smoke rising from many buildings. | TV footage showed repeated explosions and smoke rising from many buildings. |
| On Friday, Syria's official Sana news agency reported that troops, backed by Russian air strikes, had taken a reconstructed 13th Century castle perched on a hill to the west of the Roman-era ruins. | On Friday, Syria's official Sana news agency reported that troops, backed by Russian air strikes, had taken a reconstructed 13th Century castle perched on a hill to the west of the Roman-era ruins. |
| The castle, known as Qalaat Shirkuh or Qalaat Ibn Maan, sits on a 150m-high (500ft) hilltop overlooking the ruins and is of strategic importance, pro-government media reported. | The castle, known as Qalaat Shirkuh or Qalaat Ibn Maan, sits on a 150m-high (500ft) hilltop overlooking the ruins and is of strategic importance, pro-government media reported. |
| Ancient city of Palmyra | Ancient city of Palmyra |
| Palmyra: Blowing ruins to rubble | Palmyra: Blowing ruins to rubble |
| Why IS destroys ancient sites | Why IS destroys ancient sites |
| Government forces briefly entered the town on Thursday but were pushed back. | Government forces briefly entered the town on Thursday but were pushed back. |
| The prospect of its liberation has been welcomed by Unesco, the UN's cultural agency, which has described the destruction of Palmyra as a war crime. | The prospect of its liberation has been welcomed by Unesco, the UN's cultural agency, which has described the destruction of Palmyra as a war crime. |
| The jihadist group, which has also demolished several pre-Islamic sites in neighbouring Iraq, believes that such structures are idolatrous. | The jihadist group, which has also demolished several pre-Islamic sites in neighbouring Iraq, believes that such structures are idolatrous. |
| But the head of Syria's antiquities authority Mamoun Abdelkarim promised to repair as much of the damage as possible as a "message against terrorism". | |
| In addition to its ruins, Palmyra is situated in a strategically important area on the road between the capital, Damascus, and the contested eastern city of Deir al-Zour. | In addition to its ruins, Palmyra is situated in a strategically important area on the road between the capital, Damascus, and the contested eastern city of Deir al-Zour. |
| Recapturing Palmyra would be a significant victory for the government and Russia, which withdrew most of its forces last week after a six-month air campaign against opponents of President Bashar al-Assad. | Recapturing Palmyra would be a significant victory for the government and Russia, which withdrew most of its forces last week after a six-month air campaign against opponents of President Bashar al-Assad. |
| Russia's intervention is widely seen as having turned the tide of the five-year civil war in Mr Assad's favour. | Russia's intervention is widely seen as having turned the tide of the five-year civil war in Mr Assad's favour. |