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Palmyra: Syria forces 'enter Islamic State-held city' | Palmyra: Syria forces 'enter Islamic State-held city' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Syrian government forces backed by Russian air strikes have seized several neighbourhoods in the ancient city of Palmyra, state TV has said. | |
Russian aircraft carried out 40 missions over the city in the past 24 hours, the defence ministry said. | |
A monitoring group said the fighting was the most intense seen so far in the Syrian 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. |
In a statement, Russia's defence ministry said the strikes hit 158 IS targets killing more than 100 militants. | |
Images released by the Syrian military showed tanks and helicopters firing at positions in Palmyra. The date of the footage could not be independently verified. | |
Pictures also showed repeated explosions and smoke rising from many buildings. | |
IS warned residents to leave the city earlier this week as the conflict intensified, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. | |
The monitoring group said government forces had taken three neighbourhoods that are part of the modern town, AP news agency reported. | |
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. |
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". | 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 earlier this month 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. |