The Syrian army has seized control of parts of Palmyra from the so-called "Islamic State." Government forces, backed by Russian military support, have been battling IS militants for weeks to reach the historic city.
"The army has entered a western neighborhood of Palmyra and has seized control of part of it," the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, said, adding that "there are clashes and heavy shelling" across the city.
Reports also suggest that the Assad regime also now fully controls part of the western and north-western city outskirts, as well as the airport in the eastern part of the city.
'Islamic State' destroys more of ancient Palmyra
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A Syrian military official reportedly told German news agency DPA that recapturing Palmyra "is a matter of time."
"There is a big collapse in the ranks of Daesh fighters," the official said on condition of anonymity. "They have abandoned most of their positions around the city."
Palmyra is a UNESCO site that was once a classical city nestled on the edge of an oasis in the Syrian desert. However, its ancient heritage has largely been wiped out. IS militants first seized Palmyra in May 2015 and began systematically destroying its ancient monuments and temples, and looting its many treasures. The jihadist group also carried out mass executions in the city's Roman theatre.
The destruction of the city's famed triumphal arch, the temple of Bel, was described by UNESCO as "an intolerable crime against civilization."
Syria's state news agency has reported that "Islamic State" militants have demolished a famous monument and damaged a theater in the ancient city of Palmyra. This is not the first time IS has destroyed ancient relics.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Eid
IS strikes again
What is now left of the ancient ruins at Palmyra - known as the "Pearl of the Desert" - is uncertain after a new strike by IS militants on Thursday. This photo shows the face of statue at a destroyed museum in March 2016. Syrian government forces had recaptured Palmyra that month from jihadists, who view the UNESCO-listed site's ancient ruins as idolatrous.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Eid
Once grandiose, now rubble
This image of Palmyra's Tetrapylon was taken in 2014. If SANA agency reports are correct, this monument is no longer standing. Current images after Thursday's reported strike are still unavailable.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Eid
Amphitheater also suffers a blow
This image shows the Roman amphitheater, which was originally built around 200 A.D., in April 2016. Reports now say the facade has been destroyed by IS extremists. In 2015, jihadists used the site - which once premiered plays - for mass executions. After the city was retaken from IS last year, the Russian government staged a classical music concert here to celebrate the success.
Image: Reuters/O. Sanadiki
Never-ending destruction
Palmyra's National Museum, shown here, also suffered heavy losses under IS rule. Its treasures were looted, some were damaged and others burned.
Image: picture-alliance/Sputnik/M. Voskresenskiy
Before and after
This picture, taken last March, shows the ruins of Palmyra's Temple of Baalshamin - just two columns left standing after IS destruction the year before. The smaller image, held by the photographer, shows the image he took in 2014 - with clearly more in the background behind the columns.
