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Isis driven out of Palmyra as Syrian state forces retake 'complete control' of ancient city Isis driven out of Palmyra as Syrian state forces retake 'complete control' of ancient city
(about 1 hour later)
The Isis jihadist group has been driven out of the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra and government forces have retaken “complete control”, according to state media reports.The Isis jihadist group has been driven out of the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra and government forces have retaken “complete control”, according to state media reports.
In what would be a major symbolic victory over the militant group, Syrian state TV reports quoted a military source saying that the army had recaptured the city with the help of militia allies.In what would be a major symbolic victory over the militant group, Syrian state TV reports quoted a military source saying that the army had recaptured the city with the help of militia allies.
Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad had “complete control over the city of Palmyra” as of Sunday morning, the military source said.Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad had “complete control over the city of Palmyra” as of Sunday morning, the military source said.
While it is difficult to verify reports from the battlefield in Syria, an independent monitoring group told the Reuters news agency the state media reports appeared largely accurate. In a statement aired on Syrian TV, the General Command of the Syrian army said it could confirm "security and stability" had been returned to Palmyra with the assistance of the Russian and Syrian air forces.
It said the recapture of the ancient city showed that "the army and its friends" were the only combatants capable of fighting and eradicating terrorism. 
A spokesman for the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said some gunfire remained in the eastern part of the city, but the bulk of Isis forces had moved out to the east leaving Palmyra under government control. He described it as the biggest defeat for the group since it declared a caliphate across its territories in June 2014.A spokesman for the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said some gunfire remained in the eastern part of the city, but the bulk of Isis forces had moved out to the east leaving Palmyra under government control. He described it as the biggest defeat for the group since it declared a caliphate across its territories in June 2014.
Isis was reported as losing the battle for Palmyra on Saturday, though the jihadist group initially resisted those state media claims with propaganda videos of their own.Isis was reported as losing the battle for Palmyra on Saturday, though the jihadist group initially resisted those state media claims with propaganda videos of their own.
Some on-the-ground activists still suggest the group holds as many as three neighbourhoods in the city, but it now seems clear the majority of its forces fled over the course of Saturday night.Some on-the-ground activists still suggest the group holds as many as three neighbourhoods in the city, but it now seems clear the majority of its forces fled over the course of Saturday night.
Rami Abdulrahman, the director of the Syrian Observatory, said the bodies of more than 400 Isis fighters had been left behind after the fighting, the culmination of an intensive three-week campaign by Assad forces supported by Russian air strikes.Rami Abdulrahman, the director of the Syrian Observatory, said the bodies of more than 400 Isis fighters had been left behind after the fighting, the culmination of an intensive three-week campaign by Assad forces supported by Russian air strikes.
A Unesco World Heritage site and home to some of the finest ancient Roman ruins in the Middle East, the loss of Palmyra to Isis was mourned around the world.A Unesco World Heritage site and home to some of the finest ancient Roman ruins in the Middle East, the loss of Palmyra to Isis was mourned around the world.
The jihadist group had a track record of destroying any religious symbols and structures within its territories that did not fit with its ultra-conservative interpretation of Sunni Islam, describing them as idolatrous.The jihadist group had a track record of destroying any religious symbols and structures within its territories that did not fit with its ultra-conservative interpretation of Sunni Islam, describing them as idolatrous.
Sure enough, within a few months of taking the ancient city last May, Isis had destroyed two of its most elaborate temple buildings and posted evidence of the acts online.Sure enough, within a few months of taking the ancient city last May, Isis had destroyed two of its most elaborate temple buildings and posted evidence of the acts online.
Though symbolically important, the modern city next to Palmyra is also a major strategic gateway to much of Syria's eastern desert.Though symbolically important, the modern city next to Palmyra is also a major strategic gateway to much of Syria's eastern desert.