Syrian forces reach outskirts of IS-held Palmyra

Syrian pro-government forces have reached the outskirts of Palmyra in their push to drive Islamic State militants from the ancient town, according to activists.

It is their second such offensive this year.

Syrian forces and their allies from the Lebanese Shiite militant Hezbollah group and Iranian advisers are at the town’s western gateway, located about five kilometres (three miles) from the famed Roman ruins, the activist-run Palmyra Co-ordination Committee said.

The activist group also reported there were air strikes across the town on Tuesday morning.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Hezbollah’s media outlets also reported the advances.

The government lost control of Palmyra in December, less than one year after it reclaimed the town from IS extremists.

Archaeologists have decried the damage to Palmyra’s priceless ruins.

Palmyra was Syria’s top tourist attraction before war gripped the country in 2011, drawing tens of thousands of visitors each year.

Syrians affectionately refer to the town as “the bride of the desert”.

Drone footage released by Russia’s defence ministry earlier this month showed new damage to the facade of Palmyra’s Roman-era theatre and the adjoining Tetrapylon – a set of four monuments with four columns each at the centre of the colonnaded road leading to the theatre.

A 2014 report by a UN research agency disclosed satellite evidence of looting while the ruins were under Syrian military control.

Opposition factions have also admitted to looting the antiquities for funds.

Source: Syrian forces reach outskirts of IS-held Palmyra – BT