Much Palmyra on IS recaptured

palmyra - The Syrian government army Thursday held most of the eastern Syrian city of Palmyra again after Islamic State (IS) has withdrawn from the desert town. It reports the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Syrian army, backed by the Russian Air Force and Shiite militias, the ruined city is trying for the second time IS capture in a year. The jihadists took Palmyra in December for the second time in the Syrian government army, which is then focused on the conquest of Aleppo in northern Syria.

The army captured the last hours of the western part of Palmyra and the citadel on the hill next to the city. Thursday examines the city, according to the observatory on the presence of mines.

During the two occupations of the city, has IS part of Palmyra's archaeological heritage destroyed. The UN organization UNESCO calls it a war crime. IS considers the pre-Islamic culture as pagan. The city of Palmyra is since 1980 a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.