[quote]
A monitoring group has backed the Syrian government's claim that the city was recaptured overnight by the army.
Military sources say the Syrian army now has "full control". It had been gaining ground for several days, supported by Russian air strikes.
President Assad said this showed the success of the army's strategy.
His comments, to a group of visiting French parliamentarians, were carried on state TV.
IS seized the Unesco World Heritage site and modern town in May 2015.
Images released by the Syrian military on Saturday showed helicopters and tanks firing at positions in Palmyra.
The date of the footage could not be independently verified.
Palmyra is situated in a strategically important area on the road between the capital, Damascus, and the contested eastern city of Deir al-Zour.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, said there was still gunfire in the eastern part of the city, but the bulk of the IS force had pulled out and retreated further east.[/quote][URL="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35906568"]
[/URL][URL="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35906568"]Source[/URL]
[IMG]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CejPteTWEAIFdpr.jpg:large[/IMG]
For people concerned about the strategic value of this city... It has an airport. Nuff' said.
Honestly, god be with the Syrian Army. As far as I'm concerned let them destroy every one of these radicalist bastards.
[QUOTE=JoeSkylynx;50015189]For people concerned about the strategic value of this city... It has an airport. Nuff' said.
Honestly, god be with the Syrian Army. As far as I'm concerned let them destroy every one of these radicalist bastards.[/QUOTE]
Bear in mind that this would allow them to restore supplies to Deir-Ezzor. With that would allow straight push into Raqqa.
[QUOTE=RG4ORDR;50015222]Bear in mind that this would allow them to restore supplies to Deir-Ezzor. With that would allow straight push into Raqqa.[/QUOTE]
How well defended is Raqqa btw? Does anyone know?
[QUOTE=soliv;50015244]How well defended is Raqqa btw? Does anyone know?[/QUOTE]
Considering how close the SDF frontline is to Raqqa? Not much at all.
Question is who's capable enough to reach it without their rear echelon collapsing. Everyone is a bit too wrecked to commit to a major offensive at the moment, except maybe the anti-ISIS forces on the Iraqi side.
Shame it won't bring back what was destroyed.
Glad ISIS can't push forward anymore
That looks like a perfect potential bag/encirclement.
[QUOTE=Freakie;50015438]Shame it won't bring back what was destroyed.[/QUOTE]
They're gonna rebuils it though, so that's something. It might not be the real thing, but symbolic value is just as meaningful as age.
Good, God knows how many historical artifacts have been saved by this.
[QUOTE=Native Hunter;50015488]Good, God knows how many historical artifacts have been saved by this.[/QUOTE]
Believe or not that's a source of ISIS' funding. Selling them nets more of a profit than destroying it, but if you break the replica they display then you get people outraged.
Based off of videos showing the SA actually at the airfield, then that means that they also captured one of the main roads leading up to Ar Raqqah. Think of the strategic importance of that. They would literally be pinching Daesh out of the city, and even allows them to continue the forward momentum along the eastern route all the way to the Syria/Iraq border. That is if they continue to push. I mean...hell...they must have pushed them hard enough to where daesh didn't even bother to pack up!
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfzGLov-53E[/media]
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