Monday, 28 March 2016

Syria Army Retakes Palmyra City in Major Victory over Terrorists



Syrian troops – in cooperation with Popular Defense forces – recaptured on Sunday the famed ancient city of Palmyra from the so-called ‘Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’ (ISIL) takfiri group and destroyed the last stronghold of ISIL in a major victory over the terrorists.
Army sappers were defusing mines and bombs planted by ISIL in the city’s ancient ruins, a UNESCO world heritage site where the terrorist gunmen sparked a global outcry with the systematic destruction of treasured monuments.
“After heavy fighting during the night, the army is in full control of Palmyra — both the ancient site and the residential neighborhoods,” SANA quoted a military source as saying.
ISIL terrorists pulled out, retreating towards the towns of Sukhnah and Deir Ezzor to the east. They used Palmyra’s ancient amphitheatre as a venue for public executions, including the beheading of the city’s 82-year-old former antiquities chief.
The oasis city’s recapture is a strategic as well as symbolic victory for President Bashar al-Assad, since it provides control of the surrounding desert extending all the way to the Iraqi border.
Source: Al-Manar Website
27-03-2016 – 11:34 Last updated 27-03-2016 – 11:34

The army establishes full control over several
neighborhoods in Palmyra city and areas in Hama

Tadmur (Palmyra city)

Army units, in cooperation with the popular defense groups, continued military operations to retake Tadmur (Palmyra city) where fierce clashes are taking place in various areas, with ISIS terrorists suffering heavy losses.
The operations have resulted in establishing full control over the neighborhoods of al-Mutaqa’idin, al-Ameriyeh and al-Jamiyat al-Gharbiyeh in Tadmur city,  according to sources on the ground.
Al-Ameriyeh neighborhood, where heavy clashes took place between the army units and ISIS groups since early this morning, is considered the last line of defense for ISIS, whose members had planted dozens of mines and explosive devices inside the neighborhood to hinder the army’s advance.
In the meantime, army units are currently  engaged in fierce clashes with ISIS terrorists in al-Gharbi and al-Shamali neighborhoods, making advances in al-Gharbi neighborhood after heavy clashes with ISIS terrorists.
According to the sources, the army units also launched intensive military operations towards the southern orchards, achieving important advances towards the city.
The sources added that violent clashes also are going on in the vicinity of Palmyra airport in the eastern of the city.
During the past two days, the army seized the archaeological Palmyra castle, Wadi al-Qobor, al-Qosor Mountains, the Qatari palace and all hills surrounding the city.

Hama

Army units established control over two positions in the eastern countryside of Hama after inflicting heavy losses in personnel and munitions upon ISIS terrorists.
Army units carried ou a special operation against dens and gatherings of ISIS terrorist organization in Aqareb area 31 kilometers to the east of Hama.
The operation ended by establishing control on two new sites to the west of Aqareb Dam and Tabaret al-Deibeh in addition to killing 10 terrorists from ISIS organization and destroying three vehicles equipped with heavy machine guns.
Engineering units combed the two positions and dismantled the explosive devices which were planted earlier by terrorists to hinder the advance of the army.

Palmyra Castle partially damaged due to Daesh deliberate acts of demolition and vandalism

SANA – The archaeological Palmyra Castle was found to have sustained massive damage deliberately inflicted by ISIS terrorists before they have fled deep into Tadmur (Palmyra) city.
While it can only be seen from the outside, the castle seems to have had the stairway leading through its entrance blown up and completely demolished, along with many other parts of the castle’s structure.
Palmyra citadel-2
It has so far been difficult to reach inside the castle due to the demolition, yet SANA camera was able to take close up shots of the castle from over the hill on which it is located. The damage done to the structure was evident.
SANA reporter however affirmed that a group of army soldiers found a way and managed to enter the castle and made sure its inside has been cleared of explosives.
The castle, which is located in the western part of Palmyra city, came under full control of the army only yesterday afternoon following intensive pinpoint operations to spare the castle any further damage.
The military operation in the area has been in full swing over the past days with the aim to restore security to the city and the archeological site, which ISIS took over last May.

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