ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Syrian Army advanced on the ancient ISIS occupied city of Palmyra on Thursday from three directions, securing roads and clearing mines ahead of a major push which could see it liberated from the Islamic State’s grip.
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“We might witness in the next 48 hours an overwhelming victory in Palmyra. The army is advancing in a precise and organized way to protect what is possible of monuments and archaeological sites,” Syrian Gov. Talal Barazi told AP from the city of Homs.
The head of the Antiquities and Museums Department in Damascus, Maamoun Abdulkarim, also said on Thursday that he hopes the “nightmare” that is ISIS in the ancient city is coming to an end.
Since taking over the city in May ISIS has demolished parts of the city and threatened to destroy the entirety of its archeologically precious Greco-Roman ruins.
Russia claims it is giving close air support to the Syrian offensive, with President Vladimir Putin describing it as help in rescuing a “pearl of world civilization.”
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“We might witness in the next 48 hours an overwhelming victory in Palmyra. The army is advancing in a precise and organized way to protect what is possible of monuments and archaeological sites,” Syrian Gov. Talal Barazi told AP from the city of Homs.
The head of the Antiquities and Museums Department in Damascus, Maamoun Abdulkarim, also said on Thursday that he hopes the “nightmare” that is ISIS in the ancient city is coming to an end.
Since taking over the city in May ISIS has demolished parts of the city and threatened to destroy the entirety of its archeologically precious Greco-Roman ruins.
Russia claims it is giving close air support to the Syrian offensive, with President Vladimir Putin describing it as help in rescuing a “pearl of world civilization.”
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