Syria army enters Palmyra

Syria's army entered the ancient city of Palmyra today after fierce battles against the Islamic State terrorist group.According to the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Rami Abdel Rahman, the army has entered a western neighbourhood of Palmyra and has seized control of part of it. 

The monitor said that there are clashes and heavy shelling across the historic city. Supported by Russian air strikes and ground troops, government



forces have been battling for weeks through the desert in the central province of Homs to reach Palmyra. 

Syrian state media also confirmed today that government forces were now in control of key territory around Palmyra.

Islamic State terrorists first seized Palmyra in May 2015 and systematically destroyed the city's monuments and temples. They were driven out in March 2016 but recaptured the town last December.