Syrian Army With Assistance From Russian Air Strikes Have Driven Out Islamic State Fighters From Palmyra

Reuters: Islamic State driven out of Syria's ancient Palmyra city

Syrian government forces backed by heavy Russian air support drove Islamic State out of Palmyra on Sunday, inflicting what the army called a "mortal blow" to militants who seized the city last year and dynamited its ancient temples.

The loss of Palmyra represents one of the biggest setbacks for the ultra-hardline Islamist group since it declared a caliphate in 2014 across large parts of Syria and Iraq.

The army general command said that its forces took over the city with support from Russian and Syrian air strikes, opening up the huge expanse of desert leading east to the Islamic State strongholds of Raqqa and Deir al-Zor.

Palmyra would become "a launchpad to expand military operations" against the group in those two provinces, it said, promising to "tighten the noose on the terrorist group and cut supply routes ... ahead of their complete recapture".

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WNU Editor: I hope this is true .... Palmyra ruins generally 'in good shape': Syria antiquities chief (AFP)

More News On The Syrian Army Driving The Islamic State Out Of The City Of Palmyra

Syrian troops drive IS out of historic Palmyra -- AP
Syria forces retake ancient Palmyra in major victory over IS -- AFP
Syria civil war: Assad hails Palmyra recapture from IS -- BBC
Assad’s forces take back control of Palmyra: ISIS are driven out as troops dismantle dozens of booby traps laid by terrorists -- Daily Mail
Syrian Government Regains Control of Palmyra From Islamic State -- WSJ
Syrian Troops Said to Recapture Historic Palmyra From ISIS -- NYT
Syria’s government says it has driven the Islamic State out of Palmyra -- Washington Post
Syrian forces 'recapture all of Palmyra' heritage site from Islamic State militants -- ABC News Online
Syria: Islamic State driven from ancient Palmyra -- USA Today
Syrian army retakes Palmyra from ISIS -- RT
Syrian army 'recaptures city of Palmyra from ISIL' -- Al Jazeera
Syrian forces capture Palmyra city from ISIS militants, state media report -- CNN
Syrian forces take back ancient city of Palmyra from Islamic State -- UPI
ISIS Loses Palmyra: Syrian Government Forces Regain Control Over Ancient City -- IBTimes
Assad hails Syrian regime's capture of Palmyra from Isis -- The Guardian
The Best is Yet to Come: Putin Congratulates Assad on Palmyra Liberation -- Sputnik
Putin hails Palmyra recapture, trumpets Russian role -- AFP
Syrian army's recapture of Palmyra may mean Isis has lost the battle – but it's not lost the war yet -- Patrick Cockburn, The Independent
Syrian Regime Forces Have Ended the Islamic State's Reign of Terror in Palmyra -- VICE News
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The Battle for Palmyra -- Marina Koren, The Atlantic
The expulsion of Isis from Palmyra is good news -- Independent editorial