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Syria’s government says it has driven the Islamic State out of Palmyra Syria’s government says it has driven the Islamic State out of Palmyra
(35 minutes later)
BEIRUT — Syria’s government declared Sunday that its forces had seized Palmyra from the Islamic State, driving the militants out of the archaeologically significant city in a blow to the extremist group.BEIRUT — Syria’s government declared Sunday that its forces had seized Palmyra from the Islamic State, driving the militants out of the archaeologically significant city in a blow to the extremist group.
Retaking the desert city, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its Roman-era ruins, is a substantial victory for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. His forces appear to have seized the upper hand in a devastating civil war that has turned into a dangerous proxy conflict. Retaking the desert city, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization world heritage site known for its Roman-era ruins, is a substantial victory for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. His forces appear to have seized the upper hand in a devastating civil war that has turned into a dangerous proxy conflict.
It also is a victory for Russia’s military involvement in Syria, an intervention that began in September and has inflicted heavy damage on rebel groups and bolstered Assad, an ally. Palmyra’s capture helps clear a path for pro-government forces to possibly push on to Raqqa, a city in eastern Syria that is the Islamic State’s self-declared capital.It also is a victory for Russia’s military involvement in Syria, an intervention that began in September and has inflicted heavy damage on rebel groups and bolstered Assad, an ally. Palmyra’s capture helps clear a path for pro-government forces to possibly push on to Raqqa, a city in eastern Syria that is the Islamic State’s self-declared capital.
[The ancient city facing modern scourge from Islamic State][The ancient city facing modern scourge from Islamic State]
“The liberation of the historic city of Palmyra today is an important achievement and another indication of the success of the strategy pursued by the Syrian army and its allies in the war against terrorism,” state television quoted Assad as saying during a meeting with a French delegation, the Reuters news agency reported.“The liberation of the historic city of Palmyra today is an important achievement and another indication of the success of the strategy pursued by the Syrian army and its allies in the war against terrorism,” state television quoted Assad as saying during a meeting with a French delegation, the Reuters news agency reported.
In a telephone conversation, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the Syrian leader over the assault, Russian news agencies reported.In a telephone conversation, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the Syrian leader over the assault, Russian news agencies reported.
Putin this month announced that he would draw down the bulk of his forces in Syria. But many of his warplanes have remained in the country and provided crucial air support for the nearly month-old offensive to retake Palmyra, about 150 miles northeast of the capital, Damascus.Putin this month announced that he would draw down the bulk of his forces in Syria. But many of his warplanes have remained in the country and provided crucial air support for the nearly month-old offensive to retake Palmyra, about 150 miles northeast of the capital, Damascus.
State television showed troops entering what it said was Palmyra. The images depict a deserted city that appears to have suffered heavy damage from the fighting. Streets are covered in rubble. The facades of buildings are heavily pockmarked. State television showed troops entering what it said was Palmyra. The images depict a deserted city that appears to have suffered heavy damage from fighting. Streets are covered in rubble. The facades of buildings are heavily pockmarked.
Citing an unnamed military official, the official Syrian Arab News Agency said pro-government forces had “eliminated the last gatherings of ISIS terrorists in the city and destroyed their last hideouts.” The Islamic State is also known as ISIS and ISIL. Citing an unnamed military official, the official Syrian Arab News Agency said pro-government forces had “eliminated the last gatherings of ISIS terrorists in the city and destroyed their last hideouts.” The Islamic State is also known as ISIS.
But an activist and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said clashes continued in the northeastern corner of the city, even as most of the Islamic State militants had withdrawn.But an activist and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said clashes continued in the northeastern corner of the city, even as most of the Islamic State militants had withdrawn.
“ISIS sent two car bombs to the city center a while ago,” said Khalid al-Homsi, an activist from the city who resides in Turkey.“ISIS sent two car bombs to the city center a while ago,” said Khalid al-Homsi, an activist from the city who resides in Turkey.
[How the battle against the Islamic State is redrawing the map of the Mideast][How the battle against the Islamic State is redrawing the map of the Mideast]
The extent of the damage to Palmyra’s 2,000-year-old ruins remains unclear. Unconfirmed images posted on social media purport to show recent explosions in the vicinity of the city’s medieval citadel.The extent of the damage to Palmyra’s 2,000-year-old ruins remains unclear. Unconfirmed images posted on social media purport to show recent explosions in the vicinity of the city’s medieval citadel.
After taking over Palmyra in May, the Islamic State began destroying some monuments, including the 1st-century Temple of Bel and the Arch of Triumph, which a Roman emperor built in about A.D. 200. The group also used the monuments as forums for executions. After taking over Palmyra in May, the Islamic State began destroying some monuments, including the 1st-century Temple of Bel and the Arch of Triumph, which a Roman emperor built in about A.D. 200. The extremist group also used the monuments as forums for executions.
Islamic State militants have carried out large-scale anti-idolatry campaigns, destroying several precious artifacts in the areas of Syria and Iraq under its control. The group uses extremist interpretations of Islam to justify the destruction, often targeting pre-Islamic artifacts viewed as idolatrous. Islamic State militants have carried out large-scale anti-idolatry campaigns, destroying several precious artifacts in the parts of Syria and Iraq under its control. The group uses extremist interpretations of Islam to justify the destruction, often targeting pre-Islamic artifacts viewed as idolatrous.
The loss of Palmyra is the latest sign that the group has been badly weakened in its strongholds in Iraq and Syria by both pro-Assad fighters and U.S.-backed Kurdish and Arab forces. The recapturing of Palmyra is the latest sign that the group has been badly weakened in its strongholds in Iraq and Syria by both pro-Assad fighters and U.S.-backed Kurdish and Arab forces.
Late last year, Iraqi forces drove Islamic State militants out of the city of Ramadi. In February, Kurdish fighters defeated the group at al-Shadadi, a town in eastern Syria. Late last year, Iraqi forces drove Islamic State militants out of the city of Ramadi. In February, Kurdish fighters defeated the group at al-Shaddadi, a town in eastern Syria.
U.S. military officials estimate that the group has lost more than 40 percent of the territory it held in Iraq and more than 20 percent in Syria.U.S. military officials estimate that the group has lost more than 40 percent of the territory it held in Iraq and more than 20 percent in Syria.
The attack on Palmyra comes amid a nationwide cease-fire that has substantially reduced violence, despite numerous violations claimed by government and anti-government fighters.The attack on Palmyra comes amid a nationwide cease-fire that has substantially reduced violence, despite numerous violations claimed by government and anti-government fighters.
The partial truce does not include the Islamic State and has received strong backing from Russia and the United States, even though the two powers support opposing sides in the conflict.The partial truce does not include the Islamic State and has received strong backing from Russia and the United States, even though the two powers support opposing sides in the conflict.
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
Why the ancient city of Palmyra, seized by the Islamic State, mattersWhy the ancient city of Palmyra, seized by the Islamic State, matters
The Islamic State has lost more than a fifth of its territory, says reportThe Islamic State has lost more than a fifth of its territory, says report
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