Syrian army advances further on Palmyra, establishing control over more areas

The army units, in cooperation with popular defense groups, have advanced further in the vicinity if the ancient city of Tdmur (Palmyra), a UNESCO world Heritage site, in the central Homs province.

A military source said that al-Qubour valley and al-Qusour Mountains, located to the west of Palmyra, came in the army’s hands, after earlier restoring al-Tar Mountain, 3 km west of Palmyra Castle.

ISIS gatherings in those areas were all eliminated to the last one.

The army units and the popular defense groups advanced further and killed or injured all ISIS terrorists at Dedeman Hotel and al-Ziraa roundabout at the southwestern entrance of the city.

The source pointed out that the army units dismantled the mines and explosives left behind by the terrorists.

A series of deliberate vandalism acts were inflicted by ISIS on ruins and historical sites in Palmyra after the terrorist organization took over it last May, where its members destroyed last October a nearly 2,000-year-old arch of Triumph in the ancient city of Palmyra.

Last September three ancient tower tombs that date back to different eras from 44 to 103 A.D, including the Tower of Elahbel, built in 103 AD and regarded as the finest example of this type of building, in addition to the Tower of Iamliku and the Tower of Kitot were destroyed by terrorists.

ISIS terrorists also destroyed last August large parts of the ancient Temple of Bel, dating back to 32 AD, and Temple of Baalshamin, while in early July, ISIS destroyed the 1,900-year-old “Lion of Al-Lat” statue in Palmyra.


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