ISIS/ISIL attempts to recapture Syria's ancient city Palmyra

The Islamic State (IS) terrorist group launched attacks to recapture an ancient city in Syria after losing it to government forces several weeks ago, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.


The IS has cut off the only road leading to the millennia-old oasis city of Palmyra in central Syria, threatening to besiege the UNESCO world heritage site, the UK-based monitoring group said.

The Syrian army and allied groups are fighting to re-open the strategic route and secure its surroundings from the IS attacks, it added.

Seized by the IS last May, Palmyra, about 242 km northeast of the Syrian capital Damascus, was recovered by the government with the help of Russian airstrikes in March.

The victory has enhanced the image of the Syrian government and portrayed it as a guardian of the cultural heritage, in contrast to the IS, whose fighters have wrecked havoc in Palmyra, destroying several centuries-old monuments and antiquities.

On May 5, the Russian Mariinsky orchestra played for the first time in the ancient Roman amphitheater in Palmyra since the IS was defeated.

The concert, dubbed "With a Prayer for Palmyra," included Bach's Chaconne for solo Violin, a cello piece by Rodion Shchedrin and Sergei Prokofiev's First Symphony.

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke via a video from Moscow to the audience, saying that "the event is ... a sign of memory, hope and a sense of gratitude."

On May 6, the Syrian presidential palace organized a similar event performed by several Syrian orchestras.

"Gate of the Sun" was the name of the event that was held late on the day at the Roman amphitheater.

It was held under the auspices of President Bashar al-Assad, and was a tribute to the Syrian martyrs who are commemorated on the 6th of May every year.

However, the IS group's advance on Palmyra this week raised concerns that the IS is making a comeback.

On Tuesday, The IS claimed to have downed a Syrian military helicopter over the town of Huwaysis in the countryside of Homs, Syria's third largest city.

The terror-labeled group took control of the town early this month, following battles with the Syrian troops, who have reportedly withdrawn to the nearby Jub al-Jarah area, only a few kilometers from Homs.

The report came as intense battles raged on Tuesday between the Syrian army and the IS militants in the vicinity of the T4 airbase east of Homs, near Palmyra.
   [Xinhua -china.org.cn]
16/5/16